14 Jun Women’s 10km world record under threat at Absa RYC 10k
Jacky McClean
Stillwater Sports, the organiser of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, is excited to announce that the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K (that will take place on Sunday 9 July 2023) will feature a separate elite women’s start, followed by the elite men’s and mass participation field, paving the way for Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw, to challenge the women-only 10km World Record which stands at 30:01.
Yehualaw is the current women’s World Record holder in the 10km mixed race with a time of 29:14 and will attempt to break the current women-only 10km Record. The organisers hope that such a performance will see the first 10km World Record in road running ever set on the African continent.
Yalemzerf Yehualaw (Ethiopia)
“I’m really excited to be running the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on 9 July. I’ve heard many good things about the race and that it is known as a fast course. I like to challenge myself and run fast so I will be looking to leave a legacy and write athletics history in Durban,” said Yalemzerf Yehualaw from her training base in Addis Ababa where she prepares under the watchful eye of her coach, Tessema Abshero.
“We have seen some incredible performances at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K over the years,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. “Traditionally Durban experiences near perfect weather conditions for running in July. With the separate starts for men and women, the deep field and the fast course, we may well be in for something special in the women’s race. An athlete with the calibre of Yalemzerf (Yehualaw) is capable of doing incredible things.”
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K has delivered on more than one occasion. Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei set a new SA All Comers 10km Record of 27:16 in 2018, the first South African to break 28 minutes in South Africa when Maxime Chaumeton ran 27:58 in 2022; while Jesca Chelangat’s 30:41 in 2022 took 14 seconds off the previous SA All Comers Record. The stage is set for a memorable day of racing, and possibly a new chapter in road running in South Africa.
The event organisers would like to invite runners and walkers to enter the event and be part of this historic occasion for South African sport.
EVENT INFORMATION: 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K
| Date: | Sunday 09 July 2023 |
| Start Time: | 08:00 |
| Start Venue: | Masabalala Yengwa Ave |
| Finish Venue: | Durban Beach Front Promenade (Golden Mile) |
| Entry Fee: | · Licenced Runner: R240.00
· Temporary Licence: R50.00 |
| Entry Includes: | · Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt
· Absa Entrant Gifts (Peak Cap, Drawstring Bag, Socks & Shoelaces) · DHL Water Bottle · Race Number with Timing Chip · Sponsor Route Entertainment Points · Amazing Route Entertainment Points from Start to Finish · 2 x Refreshment Stations on Route · Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service · Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal |
CHARITY SUPPORT: When entering the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K online runners and walkers can 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.
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/
SA ATHLETE INCENTIVES: The oganisers of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series have confirmed the biggest incentive purse to date in the history of South African road running in the build up to the annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. The incentive structure will see South African men earn bonuses for times faster than 28:30, culminating in a bonus of R200 000,00 for a time under 27 minutes. On the female side the incentives will start for times faster than 32:00.
With the announcement of the SA Athlete Incentives for the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, and the excellent level of middle distance running currently in South Africa, the organizers hope that world class times will be recorded by the top SA athletes on the very fast Durban course. For more information visit: https://runyourcityseries.com/rich-pickings-for-sa-athletes-as-absa-run-your-city-durban-10k-announces-unprecedented-prize-incentives/
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Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com
