Mulaudzi aims to continue podium streak, Taljaard targets PB at Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K

Image: Richard Pearce

By securing the bronze medal in the 5000m at the Athletics South Africa Senior Track and Field Championships on Saturday, 26 April 2025, Kabelo Mulaudzi extended a remarkable streak of podium finishes that dates back to September 2024 - a run he hopes to continue at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on Sunday, 11 May.

“I’m consistent in my training,” Mulaudzi said when asked about the secret to his perennial podium positions in the wake of his 14:01.89 clocking at the Ken McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom at the SA Champs. “Whether I’m running a championship race or any other race, my aim is always to finish on the podium even when my body doesn’t respond well. In those cases I push myself to make sure that I’m on the podium.”

In 2025, ‘Mr Podium’s’ top three finishes include victory at the Motsepe Foundation Race to Gender Equality 10km, gold over twelve and a half laps of the track at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Championships and a third career sub 28 minute clocking when he took third place at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 13 April. Stopping the clock in 27:57 in ‘The Friendly City’ left Mulaudzi just four seconds shy of equalling his lifetime best - a time which he wants to improve on in ‘The Mother City’ on Mother’s Day.

“This time around I want to give it a go in Cape Town. My target is to run sub 28 and try and get a PB since I missed it in Gqeberha. If I can run 27 minutes and get a PB and finish on the podium, then I’ll be happy.”

Also looking to run a personal best is Zanthe Taljaard. The 21-year-old surprised many with her breakthrough performance in Nelson Mandela Bay as she smashed her career best 10km time by over a minute. Taljaard ran 33:58 for ninth place against a world class assembly of elite women. Coached by André Venter the Boxer Athletics Club top runner from Heidelberg is high on confidence after grabbing the bronze medal in a personal best 16:39.24 behind Glenrose Xaba and Karabo More over 5000m at the national championships.

“I’m training very hard. I’m doing more kilometres a week. But part of training hard means that I take my rest and recovery days very seriously. I would love to run 33:30 in Cape Town. That’s my aim,” confirmed Taljaard.

Image: Action Photo

"We are thrilled to welcome Kabelo Mulaudzi back to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K. Kabelo brings fantastic experience, fierce competition, and a real hunger to set a new personal best,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. “At the same time, it’s equally exciting to welcome rising star Zanthe Taljaard to the field. After a great performance in Gqeberha and an impressive run over 5000m at the SA Championships, Zanthe is definitely a talent to watch. It’s incredibly special, in the 10th anniversary year of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES in Cape Town, to see seasoned campaigners and aspiring young athletes lining up together. We look forward to an unforgettable showdown on race day!"

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.