Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K is set for a thrilling showdown on Sunday with a strong line-up of national and international athletes gearing up to take on one of the fastest routes of the series.

With big names like Ugandan superstar Joshua Cheptegei and Kenyan Gilbert Kiprotich, and Kabelo Mulaudzi leading the men’s race, while Durbanite Tayla Kavangh, Kenyan Brenda Jepchirchir and 3000m steeplechase World Record holder Beatrice Chepkoech go head to head in the women’s race, world records could fall.

“Something unique is going to happen on Sunday,” said Stillwater Sports managing director and series founder Michael Meyer who believes that the stage is set for one of the most memorable days in African road running history.

With the race set to paint the streets of Durban red and bring the heat up, 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, who 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, will be among the athletes to look out for.

Also Read: Join fun beach clean-up in run-up to Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

The 29-year-old reigning Olympic 10 000m champion believes that they will have to work hard to run the 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,” said Cheptegei who holds a 10km personal best time of 26:38.

In the women’s race, all eyes will be on 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 1March 1. “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.

Also Read: Lace up for the Durban edition of the Absa Run Your City Series 10K

“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.

However, before all the record-breaking attempts can get underway on Sunday, race sponsors Absa called on the public and runners taking part in Africa’s greatest 10km race to join them on Saturday for the Durban Beach Clean-Up from Suncoast at 08:30.

Absa’s Morena Makate said the series is more than about the race. “It is the flagship sponsorship for Absa as it empowers communities. The race is also a boost to local tourism with runners and supporters flooding hotels. We are bringing communities together, it is much bigger than running the race.”

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