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As multiple world record holder Joshua Cheptegei prepares to participate in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday, 12 July 2026 alongside a world class field of athletes, the stage is set for the greatest 10km race on African soil where the men will target the first sub 27 minute 10km on the continent and the women aim to produce the first 29 minute clocking in an African 10km race.
Cheptegei returns to the country after an eight-year absence, following his record-breaking performance of 27:16, the fastest 10km time ever run in South Africa, in the same event. The 29-year-old reigning Olympic 10,000m champion believes that they will have to work hard to run the very first 26 minute 10km on African soil.
“Running is the same as football these days, it has become a team sport. If the organisers want us to run sub 27 minutes all of us must come together then something good can happen,” explains Cheptegei who holds a 10km personal best time of 26:38.
Cheptegei is going to be challenged by the likes of Gilbert Kiprotich, the race’s defending champion Kabelo Mulaudzi (27:41) and former SA 10km record holder Stephen Mokoka (27:38). For Mulaudzi, who has won the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K twice in his career, the opportunity to test himself against Cheptegei comes at just the right time.
“I have done well in Durban in the past and I want to continue with that record. I think I’m in a good shape as I struggled at the Great Manchester 10K Run (31 May) with race fitness. I don’t want to put myself under pressure, but I always want to finish on the podium, the plan hasn’t changed,” explains Mulaudzi who is coached by Richard Mayer.
Another contender in the men’s race is Kenyan Kiprotich who comes with the a 27:43 personal best time and is eyeing to improve his time. After running a 27:01 10km split at the Lisbon Half Marathon on 08 March, Kiprotich is confident of running under 27 minutes, especially if the race’s top contenders can work together.
“The reason I decided to come to Durban is because I wanted to get a personal best time. Cheptegei is here and I know we are going to push. When a strong and a good athlete comes to race it means we are going to help each other to push the pace,” said Kiprotich.
In the women’s race, all eyes will be on Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir – the fastest in the field with an incredible 29:25 personal best. Jepchirchir will be eyeing the first sub 30 minute 10km clocking by a woman on African soil and another Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series victory after her triumph at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 1 March.
“If the weather is good and the body responds, I’ll push,” warned Jepchirchir.
Meanwhile reigning SA 5000m champion Tayla Kavanagh will recall her famous victory at the 2021 edition of this race, as she relies on home ground advantage to improve on her 31:26 personal best on Sunday.
“It’s special to have hometown support, I’m looking forward to Sunday. The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K is special to me as back in 2021, I won the race when it doubled up as the SA 10km Champs. I am really looking forward to seeing what we can produce on Sunday,” said Kavanagh.
“We are honoured to welcome Joshua Cheptegei to South Africa. Seeing one of the world’s greatest distance runners compete on local roads will inspire the next generation of South African athletes to pursue their dreams,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “The calibre of the elite field is extraordinary, and the conditions are there for world-class performances. We could witness history with the men’s race challenging the 27-minute barrier on African soil, while the women’s race, with Kenya’s Brenda Jepchirchir taking the lead, has the potential to produce the continent’s first sub-30-minute performance. It’s exactly the type of racing we envisioned when we set out to establish the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series as a world-class road running platform for both international and South African athletes.”
“In the lead-up to race day, we have witnessed an incredible sense of excitement and unity building among runners,
supporters, and partners alike. The preparation, passion, and stories already emerging remind us why events like these
matter, they create spaces for connection, belonging, and shared achievement. At Absa, we are proud to stand alongside a
community that continues to show up with such energy and purpose," said Rendani Muambadzi, Absa Group Provincial
Executive, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
EVENT DATES: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
1. Sunday 01 March 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K
Elite Men’s Winner: Adriaan Wildschutt (RSA) 27:47
Elite Women’s Winner: Brenda Jepchirchir (KEN) 30:15
2. Sunday 10 May 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K
CANCELLED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST
3. Sunday 12 July 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K / SOLD OUT
Start Line: Masabalala Yengwa Avenue (MY)
Finish Venue: Sunkist Lawns, Durban Promenade
4. Sunday 23 August 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K / SOLD OUT
5. Thursday 24 September 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K / SOLD OUT
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity #Durban10K #JoshuaCheptegei #Greatest10KonAfricanSoil
WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com
About Absa
Absa Group is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups. Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance. Absa operates in fourteen countries. The Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. Absa also has representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, and securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States. For further information about Absa Group Limited, please visit www.absa.africa
About the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
A proudly South African mass participation road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series has been revolutionizing the sport since 2015. A road running celebration like no other, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series comprises five unique events namely the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K (launched in 2023), Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched in 2015), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched in 2017), Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K (launched in 2023) and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K (launched in 2016). A diverse road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series integrates businesses, families, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants. For further information please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/
INFO SUPPLIED.