Kabelo Seboko (South Africa) and Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia) delivered spectacular performances at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 09 July 2023, securing victory in impressive times of 27:56 and 30:46 respectively.
Twenty-five-year-old Kabelo Seboko hit the big time in winning the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. Seboko, who had been battling with injury in 2022 hit fine form in 2023 and it all culminated in a 35-second Personal Best in Durban.
Seboko clocked 27:56 for the victory, pocketing a R30 000 for the win and a further R60 000 for breaking 28 minutes. He was able to get the edge over former SA 10km record holder, Stephen Mokoka, who clocked his second best ever 10km time in running 27:59. Thabang Mosiako was awarded the same time but had to settle for third. It is the first time that three men have dipped 28 minutes in the same race on South African soil.
The first half of the race was hampered by a strong headwind, causing the lead bunch to hit 5km in 14:12. But with the wind from behind in the final 3km, the athletes made good use of the added assistance and flew to a 13:44 second half. Only in the final kilometre was Seboko able to move away from Mokoka and Mosiako.
“I’m overjoyed” said Seboko. “Last year was a rough one for me as I was constantly battling with injury, so I went back to my old coach, Richard Meyer and things started to fall into place as I was doing what worked for me. This is massive. I knew I was in shape, but this is incredible.”
With Yalemzerf Yehualaw, the current World Record Holder in the 10km Mixed Race, attempting a women’s only world record, the women started at 08h00 separately from the men who got underway at 08h12. The target was the 30:01 of Agnes Tirop. At 2km the lead bunch was some ten strong, but the strong headwind from 1km to the halfway mark put paid to that attempt. Nevertheless, Yehualaw was in town for business and after 3km she broke away from the lead pack, going through halfway in 15:40, some 18 seconds ahead of Uganda’s Stella Chesang and Docus Ajok (15;58). Like the men, Yehualaw used the tailwind in the final 3km to good effect, clocking 15:06 for the last 5km to win in 30:46. Her time is a mere 6 seconds off the SA All Comers Record of Stella Chesang run at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K in 2022 when she ran 30:40.
“I really like the course,” said Yehualaw. “I can see it is a fast course and if it wasn’t for the wind I think I would have broken the record and I really want to come back here and try again.”
“On behalf of Absa, I would like to congratulate all the incredible individuals who laced up and participated in the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in this beautiful city, and a big well done to our race winners. It is an honor to be a part of this remarkable event, and I am truly inspired by your dedication, perseverance, and passion for fitness and well-being,” said Sydney Mbhele, Absa’s Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer.
“Each step you took during the race showcased your commitment to personal growth and the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. Your determination to push your limits is truly commendable. Whether you were a seasoned runner aiming for a personal best or a first-time participant embracing the thrill of the race, your enthusiasm and spirit were evident throughout the race,” concluded Mbhele.
“A heartfelt congratulations to Kabelo Seboko and Yalemzerf Yehualaw on their remarkable performances at the 6th annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K,” commends Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. “The weather wasn’t in our favor today, but we trust that all the entrants still had a fantastic experience. We are thankful to each and every participant, our dedicated sponsors, and valued partners for enabling the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series to thrive in the Magnificent City of Durban. Today, the event resumed its full glory post the pandemic, the atmosphere was incredible, and the results speak for itself. We are now more excited than ever to shift our focus as we prepare to celebrate the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series’ debut in Tshwane in August.”
CHARITY SUPPORT: When entering the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K online runners and walkers could make a difference by supporting five local charities: 1. Reach For A Dream Foundation (RFAD), 2. Durban & Coast SPCA, 3. TREE (Training and Resources in Early Education), 4. LIV Village and 5. iThemba Lethu.
WIN A CHERY TIGGO 4 PRO URBAN VEHICLE: Ayesha Jeewa was the lucky entrant that went home as the owner of a brand-new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban Vehicle valued at over R308 900.00 compliments of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and event partners Chery South Africa and Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance. To be in the running to win this fantastic prize the following three boxes had to be ticked: runners needed to enter the event, collect their race number and be on the start line on event day.
NEXT UP: 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES
Date: | Event: | Status: |
1. Sunday 02 April 2023 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K | Completed |
2. Sunday 14 May 2023 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K | Completed |
3. Sunday 09 July 2023 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K | Completed |
4. Sunday 27 August 2023 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K | Loading |
5. Sunday 24 September 2023 | Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K |
PRIZE PURSE: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series boasts an impressive, combined Prize Purse of R 1 560 000.00 in 2023. Each of the five events will be assigned R312 000.00 in prize money of which R252 000.00 will be allocated towards the Open Category (R126 000.00 going to Top 10 Open Men’s and R126 000.00 to Top 10 Open Women’s), and R60 000 towards Age Categories (Junior, 40 – 49, 50 – 59, 60 – 69 and 70+ Age Categories). To view the prize purse breakdown please visit https://runyourcityseries.com/
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @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 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/