Ultra-marathon legend Gerda Steyn headlines the stellar field for the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K in Bloemfontein this weekend.

Image: Action Photo

THE INAUGURAL Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K promises to be a thrill-a-minute affair given the classy field of elite men and women assembled for Sunday’s race in the City of Roses.

As is usually the case with the popular series organised by Stillwater Sports, the country’s top runners will have their mettle tested by invited East African competitors. You can bet on the likes of Kabelo Mulaudzi and Stephen Mokoka to carry the South African flag high amidst stiff competition from Kenyans such as Felix Kibet Masai.

Arthur Jantjies had a brilliant weekend when he won the inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon in Cape Town, and the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon champion will look to show he is equally effective over the shorter distances.

In the women’s race, Glenrose Xaba will once again carry the South African torch and strive to deny Deborah Chemutai and Jackline Rotich from taking victory back to Kenya.

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Xaba might have her sights set on next year’s World Athletics Half Marathon Championships, but she demonstrated by winning last weekend’s Boxer Durban 5k that she retains plenty of speed despite being in heavy training for the 21.1 km.

Another runner who will arrive in Mangaung high on confidence is Lesotho’s Neheng Khathala, who was also victorious last weekend. The Hollywood Athletics Club starlet won the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10k on Sunday, though whether she will have the legs to race competitively given the tough route she traversed in Soweto remains to be seen.

Then there is local lass and South Africa’s favourite road runner, Gerda Steyn, who is eagerly looking forward to racing in her home province.

“When it comes to the 25th of October, I’m hoping to do well at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K. I’m hoping to be encouraged by the crowds and by the strong competition that will line up next to me. My aim is to get the most out of myself on race day, which is all I can ask of myself.”

Xaba might have her sights set on next year’s World Athletics Half Marathon Championships, but she demonstrated by winning last weekend’s Boxer Durban 5k that she retains plenty of speed despite being in heavy training for the 21.1 km.

Another runner who will arrive in Mangaung high on confidence is Lesotho’s Neheng Khathala, who was also victorious last weekend. The Hollywood Athletics Club starlet won the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10k on Sunday, though whether she will have the legs to race competitively given the tough route she traversed in Soweto remains to be seen.

Then there is local lass and South Africa’s favourite road runner, Gerda Steyn, who is eagerly looking forward to racing in her home province.

“When it comes to the 25th of October, I’m hoping to do well at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K. I’m hoping to be encouraged by the crowds and by the strong competition that will line up next to me. My aim is to get the most out of myself on race day, which is all I can ask of myself.”

It is on Mulaudzi, though, that most eyes will be focused on. The Boxer Athletics Club runner finally secured a victory this year at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K exactly a month ago.

“I’ve been struggling this year, so I wanted to defend my title because everyone had forgotten about me. I’m happy to be back. It’s my first win of the year and in the series. I’m very happy,” he said after that impressive run, which saw him break the tape in 28:48.

He will be eager to become the inaugural winner of the Mangaung race and cement his standing as the king of the Absa Series, having won four of the five races last year.

Mulaudzi will not have it all his own way, however, with Kibet having made it clear he wants nothing short of victory. Winner of the Two Oceans Half Marathon, Kibet enjoyed his Absa RUN YOUR CITY debut in Durban — where he finished ninth — and decided to return for another taste of these well-organised events.

He returns a much-improved athlete, having lowered his personal best to an impressive 27:19 in Prague last month.

“I'm very happy with my results in Prague. After that PB, I knew that I would be focusing on the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. I'm looking forward to giving a good performance and standing on top of the podium.”