Taking place on Sunday 10 July 2022, the 5th annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K will boast a stellar elite field of local and international athletes that will #RunForDurban. The latest list of impressive names to be added to the line-up include Djibouti’s Djamal Abdi Dirieh and Houssein Aden, Uganda’s Abel Sikowo and South Africa’s Precious Mashele.
“The fact that more and more international athletes are approaching us to come race in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, is a major feather in our cap,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Series. “It means South Africa is becoming a destination of choice for international athletes and it also means that our athletes are exposed to world class competition on home soil. We want to drive home the message that deep competition is extremely important for the growth of the sport in South Africa. Better competition means that our athletes will benefit from racing against some of the best in the world.”
“We are extremely proud to have a strong list of elite athletes toe the line ready to #RunForDurban,” continues Meyer. “Durban has been hard hit not only by the pandemic, but by riots and severe flooding. As part of our #RunForDurban campaign, headline partners Absa, PUMA, DHL, as well as the event itself have each committed to giving back R1 for every 1km run. Whether an elite or an everyday runner, just by entering the event each entrant will ensure that R40 is donated towards those that have been affected by the floods. Enter today and #RunForDurban.”
Sikowo is the latest in a line of youngsters coming from the emerging powerhouse in middle distance running, Uganda. The 23-year-old will come into the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in the shape of his life, having clocked 27:58 in Cannes in March this year. Sikowo was third in the race that saw compatriot Joshua Cheptegei running a world lead for the 10km (26:49) and was narrowly beaten by Eritrea’s Samuel Habtom.
Sikowo started his athletics career as a steeplechaser and represented Uganda at the 2015 World Youth Championships where he finished 5th. He finished in the same position at the 2019 All Africa Games. The Ugandan recently moved from the track to the road and has already notched up some success in his brief career. His first 10km in 2019 in Madrid saw him clock 28:04 to finish 4th. Then in March this year he ran his Personal Best of 27:58, placing him in the top 50 of the world rankings in 2022.
His one and only exploit over the half marathon earned him a 5th place in the fiercely contested Barcelona Half Marathon in 2021, crossing the line in 1:01.44.
“I am coming to Durban to set a fast time,” says Sikowo. “I know from my compatriot, Joshua (Cheptegei) that the course and weather in Durban are well suited to run fast times.” Cheptegei clocked the SA All Comers 10km Record in Durban at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in 2019, crossing the line in 27:16. “So I am looking forward to racing here. I know the competition will be deep and I know the South Africans will fight hard. I expect a big fight on race day which will mean we will all have to run fast.”
But Sikowo is not the only international to set his sights on Durban. For the first time two athletes from Djibouti will be lining up in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, testament to the growing international reputation of the Series.
Djamal Abdi Dirieh has his sights firmly set on the National 10k Record of Djibouti which stands at 27:51. Dirieh is another athlete who has a deep pedigree, having won the silver medal at the World Junior Championships in the 5000m in 2016. His 13:13.45 is the National Record for Djibouti in the 5000m. While dabbling in road running prior to the pandemic, he ran his one and only 10km race in December 2019, clocking 28:30 in Houilles, France and a half marathon (63:46) in Azkoitia, Spain. He made the decision to switch permanently from the track to the road during the pandemic and competed in two half marathons. Dirieh finished 5th in the Djibouti Half Marathon in 2021 with a time of 64:22 but improved dramatically a year later where he ran 61:35 in Gent in March this year. There is no doubt that Dirieh possesses an incredible amount of speed, his 7:47.95 PB for 3000m bears testimony to just that.
Dirieh will be joined by his country man, Houssein Aden who is a renowned front runner. While relatively new to the athletics scene, Aden has already shown immense protentional. In sweltering heat of 35 degrees, Aden ran 8:03 in the 3000m in Djibouti in January this year.
Mashele out to defend title:
In October 2021, Precious Mashele ran one of the fastest times on South African soil for the 10km when he won the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K which doubled as the South African 10km Championships. Mashele ran is PB, clocking 28:11 in a race where many thought a sub 28 was on the cards. Having battled with injury, Mashele is on the comeback trail and is hungry to defend his title, even against the class opposition that will be coming from outside the country.
“I have been battling with injury, but am coming back to my best now,” said Mashele. “In Cape Town, (Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K), I was not yet fully recovered, but for Durban, I will be ready. I know the guys that are coming are fast. But we need to start beating them here at home. I am looking forward to racing against them and will be ready.”
Mashele successfully defended his SA 5000m title and will be heading to the World Championships for that event later in July.
EVENT INFORMATION: Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
| Date: | Sunday 10 July 2022 |
| Entry Fee: | Standard (Licensed): R235.00
Gold Package (Licensed): R900.00 Temporary Licence: R50.00 |
CHARITY SUPPORT: When entering the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K online entrants can choose to support five local charities: 1. LIV Village, 2. TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education), 3. Durban & Coast SPCA, 4. iThemba Lethu and Reach For A Dream Foundation (RFAD).
WIN a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K: All runners (and walkers) that enter the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K will stand a chance to win a stunning Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban vehicle on event day. To be in the running to win the vehicle you must enter the event, collect your race number and be on the start line.
#RunForDurban Campaign: Durban has been hard hit not only by the pandemic, but by riots and now severe flooding. Headline partners, Absa, PUMA, DHL as well as the event itself have each committed to giving back R1 for every 1km run and/or walked at the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July. Just by entering the Durban event, each runner and/or walker will ensure that R40 is donated towards those that have been affected by the floods. The funds raised will be used to purchase non-perishable food items, shoes, clothing and blankets.
EXCITING TIME-BASED INCENTIVE SCHEME: Stillwater Sports, the organisers of Africa’s leading road running series, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, have announced an exciting time-based incentive scheme that will reward SA’s elite runners on a sliding-scale at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 10 July 2022. To view the complete SA Elite Athlete Incentive breakdown CLICK HERE
2022 PRIZE PURSE BREAKDOWN: To view the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K Prize Purse breakdown CLICK HERE
Facebook: @Durban10k
Instagram: @Durban10k
Hashtag: #RunForDurban #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Websites: www.durban10k.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 three unique events namely the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (launched in 2015), the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (launched in 2017) 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/
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