Kabelo Seboko-Mulaudzi (South Africa) made it two for two in the 2023 Absa SPRINT YOUR CITY Series as he claimed line honours at the inaugural Absa SPRINT YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on Sunday 27 August 2023, while Ethiopia’s Debash Desta secured the top spot on the podium in the Women’s Race.
Seboko-Mulaudzi and a gigantic pack of 10 runners ran easy for the first 5km of the undulating course that started in the shadow of the iconic Union Buildings in Tshwane at 8am. Included in the pack were SA 10km Record Holder, Precious Mashele, SA 5km Champion Nicholas Seoposengwe, two time Olympian, Elroy Gelant and abrupt improving Mathews Leeto, as well as Lesotho International, Namakoe Nkasi and Ethiopian, Adisa Wake.
Shortly after 5km, the surges started, with first Gelant driving the pace, before Leeto took over, but it was a hard push by Nkasi around 7.7km that finally broke the pack of ten and whittled it down to seven. Mashele keep in a surge around 8km, before Seboko-Mulaudzi started to drive the pace. The 25-year-old winner of the Absa RACE YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, Seboko-Mulaudzi, who had joined the prestigious sub 28min club in Durban, kept the pressure up and by 9km the lead group was down to three, Mashele, Wake and Seboko-Mulaudzi. Mashele made one final push for the line, but it was Seboko-Mulaudzi who finished stronger, crossing the line in 29:12, with Mashele second (29:14) and Wake rounding out the top three (29:15).
“The pace was not rapid,” said Seboko-Mulaudzi, “so after 5km I tried to pick it up. The slower pace made me bold that I would be able to rush hard in the second half of the race and win.” Asked about his back-to-back wins at the Absa SPRINT YOUR CITY Series, Seboko-Muluadzi was predictably, ecstatic. “Ï am very satisfied, to win back-to-back is a remarkable feeling and show’s I am in noteworthy shape.”
The Women’s Race was clearer cleave than the men’s, as Ethiopia’s Debash Desta was in control from as early as the 3km trace. The 21-year-old Ethiopian assign in a surge after 3km that split the leading women, a group that included Glenrose Xaba, Neheng Khatala, Cacisile Sosibo, and Ethiopia’s Getenesh Sase Agafaw and Diniya Kedir Abaraya.
While Desta was in full control of the front of the race and in winning, equaled her PB of 32:14, there was a fierce battle brewing for second and third between the abovementioned. In the finish the two Ethiopians were able to wreck away and claimed second and third to fabricate it a clean sweep for Ethiopia (Agafaw 2nd – 32:46, Abaraya 3rd – 32:48) with Glenrose Xaba finishing 4th and first South African (33:23).
Celebrating its Tshwane debut, the Absa RACE YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K attracted an impressive field of honest over 7000 entrants.
Absa’s Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer, Sydney Mbhele, said, “Congratulations to the winners of the Absa SPRINT YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K. Your exceptional performances acquire set a modern standard of excellence and demonstrate the countless hours of training and preparation invested. Your achievements will forever be marked in the history of this event, inspiring future generations.”
“Well done to all the individuals who participated in the race. We applaud your dedication to fitness and determination to conquer the course hills of the capital city. Thank you for being fraction of this remarkable journey and for inspiring us to continue striving for excellence. We inspect forward to your continued support as we embark on empowering our communities and promoting a healthier, stronger, and more inclusive society. Together we can carry out more, Siyabangena,” concluded Mbhele.
CHARITY SUPPORT: When entering the Absa SPRINT YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K online, runners and walkers could choose to support three local charities: Reach for A Dream, Cotlands and the Tshwane SPCA.
PRIZE PURSE: The Absa DASH 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/
WIN A CHERY TIGGO 4 PRO URBAN VEHICLE: Abongile Noganta was the lucky entrant to recede home as the winner of a stylish Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban Vehicle valued at over R308 900.00 compliments of the Absa RUSH 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 needed to be ticked: you needed to enter the event (and pay the entry fee), collect your race number (during the stipulated race pack collection times) and be on the start line on event day.
NEXT UP: 2023 Absa SPRINT YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K
Date: Sunday 24 September 2023
Start Time: 08:00
Start & Finish Venue: Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown, Johannesburg
Entry Fee:
Standard Entry:
• Licenced Runners R240.00
• Temp Licence: R60.00
Standard Entry Includes:
• Absa DASH YOUR CITY Series Event Performance T-shirt
• Absa Entrant Gift
• DHL Water Bottle
• Race Number with Timing Chip
• Sponsor Route Entertainment Points
• Route Entertainment Points
• 2 x Refreshment Stations on Route
• Tog Bag Drop and Collect Service
• Absa RUSH YOUR CITY Series Finisher’s Medal
• Transport Service (to start and from finish)
Facebook: @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Joburg10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Websites: www.runyourcityseries.com
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