Mosiako set to kick off 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES season as Xaba Targets another podium in Cape Town

Image: Kevin Sawyer

With a personal best of 27:45 over 10km and the distinction of being South Africa’s most consistent sub-28-minute 10km performer of 2023 and 2024, Thabang Mosiako is looking to this Sunday’s Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (11 May) for encouraging signs of a return to peak fitness. In contrast, Glenrose Xaba is in the best form of her career this season and is eager to build on her impressive achievements in Cape Town.

“To be honest with you, training hasn’t been easy and I have been in and out due to a very bad hamstring injury,” said Mosiako reflecting on the long period of recovery that followed his 2:09:14 marathon debut at the Abu Dhabi Marathon in December.

“Due to my ups and downs in training, I was not ready for the first Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race in Gqeberha last month. But after obtaining a top 10 finish at the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon with a time of 66 minutes, I saw that I am getting to that sub-28-minute Thabang again,” explained Mosiako who in 2023 became the first South African man to dip under 28 minutes three times in a single season.

Encouraged by that performance at one of the country’s most prestigious 21km races, the top runner found that his preparations took a positive turn leaving him confident of producing a 10km season’s best in The Mother City on Mother’s Day.

In closing, Mosiako adds, “For Cape Town I can say I will be happy to run sub 28:30 to see if I am back or not.”

By contrast, Glenrose Xaba has been in the form of her life this season. After taking third place at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 13 April in 31:56, Xaba produced the third fastest 5000m time of her career (15:27.95) to win the Athletics South Africa Senior Track & Field Championships 5000m title - the 14th national track or road crown of her career. The country’s fastest 10km athlete of all time (31:12) says her success is based on consistency in training which has led to five career sub 32 minute clockings.

“My body is responding very well after the SA Track & Field Championships,” confirms Xaba. “The recovery went well. I’m very happy that I was able to run sub-32-minutes in Gqeberha. Running sub-32 takes a lot because you have to focus on training. It is nice to keep running consistently because it allows you to gauge your fitness and see where you can improve. My target for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K is to be on the podium and run sub-32 again or faster.”

Image: Action Photo

“It’s fantastic to have Thabang Mosiako lining up for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K as he continues his steady return to top form, and equally exciting to welcome Glenrose Xaba, who is currently in the shape of her life,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “Both athletes are determined to bring their best to the streets of the Mother City as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the RUN YOUR CITY SERIES, and we’re expecting an exciting showdown. Entrants and spectators can look forward to witnessing world-class racing live – it’s going to be an unforgettable experience.”

EVENT INFORMATION: Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K

CHARITY SUPPORT: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES proudly supports the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as the official charity of the entire series of events. A non-profit leader in the fight against cancer since 1931, CANSA enables research, educates the public and advocates for and supports all people affected by cancer, while leading SA towards a cancer-free society. When entering an Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES event online, runners can show their support by donating towards CANSA.

Prize Purse: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES boasts an impressive, combined prize purse of R1 610 000.00 in 2025. Each of the five events will feature a total prize allocation of R322 000. Of this, R252 000.00 will be dedicated to the Open Category, with R126 000.00 awarded to the Top 10 Open Men and R126 000.00 to the Top 10 Open Women. The top male and female finishers in each city will receive R30 000.00 each, with R25 000.00 going to second-place finishers and R20 000.00 to third-place finishers.

Additionally, R70 000.00 will be allocated to Age Categories. The Age Category prize pool will reward the top three finishers in the Junior, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70+ age groups."

South African Athlete Incentives: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES also has an unprecedented “SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule” for 2025. Applying to all five races, the incentive schedule offers bonuses for exceptional performances. In the men’s category, bonuses will start for times faster than 28 minutes, with a substantial R200 000.00 bonus for breaking the 27-minute barrier. For women, bonuses begin for times faster than 32:08 minutes, with an impressive R200 000.00 incentive for breaking the 30:23 mark.

To further raise the stakes, a bonus of R50 000.00 will be awarded to the South African athlete who breaks the SA 10km record (at the time of the race). It is important to note that the R50 000.00 will be awarded to the fastest time.