Multiple SA Record Holders and Olympians, Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant have joined the impressive list of local and international athletes – including two sub 28min 10k athletes, the third fastest 10k athlete in the world in 2022 and a multiple South African champion – that will be looking to make their mark at the 7th annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on Sunday 15 May 2022.
“It gives us great pleasure to welcome both Elroy (Gelant) and Stephen (Mokoka) to the 2022 Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10K,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of SA’s leading 10km road running series. “Both Elroy and Stephen have been immensely loyal and have run some of their best times in the series. They have been role models for the next generation by showing up year in and year out, and we are beginning to see the fruition of them setting the bar with a new generation now coming through the ranks. Always ready to race, Stephen and Elroy are guaranteed to bring the action come race day. We are extremely proud to give SA’s elite runners the opportunity to face the World’s best runners here on home soil and can’t wait to see the action unfold.”
The third fastest athlete over 10km in 2022 is of course Daniel Simiu Ebenyo with his 26:59 run in Valencia. Ebenyo is also the defending champion in Cape Town. Ethiopia’s Mogos Tuemay has gone 27:50 (Herzogenaurach, 2021) and the SA Champion is Precious Mashele who won the 10km title for the third consecutive year at the Absa RYC DURBAN 10K in 2021. These three will now also be challenged by two of South Africa’s most dominant athletes of the last decade, Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant.
It is Mokoka who owns the SA 10km and Half Marathon records of 27:38 (Manchester, 2015) and 59:36 (Gdynia, 2020), while Gelant holds the 5000m SA record of 13:04.88 (Hengelo, 2016). Both have represented South Africa on numerous occasions, and both have represented South Africa at the Olympic Games (Mokoka 2012 – Marathon; 2016 – 10 000m; 2021 – Tokyo Marathon/Gelant 2016 -5000m; 2021 – Marathon).
Mokoka was the last winner of the Absa RYC Series races, the ABSA RYC DURBAN 10K in 2019, before Covid put a hold on all things racing. He was beaten to the line by Precious Mashele on 31 October 2021 at the Absa RYC DURBAN 10K at the return of the Series but gained some measure of revenge as he finished third in the 2021 Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 12K (now the Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10K), defeating Mashele who, after a long season, had to settle for 9th.
Mokoka is deep in marathon preparation for the World Championships in Oregon in July and will use the Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10K as a tester to see where he is in his preparations. And while the 37-year-old has his sights firmly set on Eugene Oregon, it is guaranteed that he will once again deliver a show stopping performance on May 15 as Mokoka loves to race in the series. Since the inception of the series in 2015, Mokoka has run in 11 of the 13 races, finished on top of the podium twice (Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 12K – 2016/Absa RYC DURBAN 10K – 2019), never been outside of the top ten and been on the podium on six occasions (either second or third to go with the two wins).
“I love competing in the Absa RYC Series. We always have good international competition to keep us sharp and the series has always looked after us South African athletes. Not having to travel internationally to race against the best in the world has helped us a lot and you know that if you line up for any of the Absa RYC races, you need to be in shape if you want to perform,” said Mokoka. “I am looking forward to running in Cape Town on 15 May. It will be the 5th time I run in the race. While I am preparing for the World Marathon Championships, it will be good to show the youngsters I am still around and that it won’t be easy for them.”
Gelant was the only South African to finish the marathon at the 2021 Olympic Games. Since then he has raced sparingly and has decided to focus a bit more on the shorter distances in 2022. “I won’t be running a marathon this year,” said Gelant. “My focus is more on the shorter races.”
Gelant finished second at the 2022 Two Oceans Half Marathon, beaten by a mere 2seconds, but he has been showing good form on the track again claiming the silver medal in the 10 000m (28:25.32) and finishing 9th in the 5000m (14:11.76). Gelant likes to drive the race and set the pace from the front, and while he is up against a sub 27min athlete, you can expect Gelant to show up in the front back.
“I am looking forward to running the Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10K. It is a race that is very close to my heart. The 10km is really a good distance as there are not many top 10km races in the country that allow us to run fast and put down good times,” said Gelant. “I would really like a podium and my preparations are going well. As I am looking to run either the 5000m or 10 000m at the World Championships in July, the Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10K race will be perfect for my preparations and I expect to give a good showing on race day.”
EVENT INFORMATION: 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series
| 1. Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K | Date: Sunday 15 May 2022 |
| Entry Fee:
Standard (Licensed): R235.00 Gold Package (Licensed): R900.00 Temporary Licence: R40.00 |
|
| Entries Opened: Tuesday 01 February 2022 | |
| Entries Close: Monday 09 May 2022 | |
| 2. Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K | Date: Sunday 10 July 2022 |
| Entries Open: Tuesday 08 March 2022 | |
| 3. Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K | Date: Saturday 24 September 2022 |
| Entries Open: Tuesday 05 April 2022 |
CHARITY SUPPORT: When entering the Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10K online entrants can choose to support five local charities: 1. Reach for a Dream (RFAD), 2. help2read, 3. Cotlands, 4. Cape of Good Hope SPCA and 5. Die Burger Kinderfonds.
LIVE BROADCAST: The action of the 2022 Absa RYC CAPE TOWN 10K will be broadcasted LIVE on Super Sport 209 between 08:30 – 11:00 on Sunday 15 May 2022.
SA ELITE ATHLETE PROGRAMME: The Absa RYC Series has launched the 2022 SA Elite Athlete Programme aimed at providing South African runners with the opportunity to run world class times on South African soil. The programme is aimed at ensuring that the best South African athletes compete in the Absa RYC Series, against some of the best athletes in the world, and are rewarded for world class performances.
Read more here: https://runyourcityseries.com/latest-news/absa-run-your-city-series-launches-the-south-african-elite-athlete-programme/
PRIZE PURSE: The 2022 Absa RYC Series boasts a whopping combined prize purse to the value of R870 000. Athletes that form part of the SA Elite Athlete Programme and Contender Programme will also be eligible to win their share in the event prize purse at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K, Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K and Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K.
PLEASE NOTE: The event organisers will at all times adhere to Government Regulations regarding COVID-19.
Facebook: @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
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 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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