Rutto predicts upset as Xaba aims for another podium at Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K

Image: Shawn Benjamin

Asbel Kiprop Rutto (Kenya) has promised to deliver an electric performance as a quality field of elite athletes from around the African continent descend on ‘The Mother City’ for the 10th celebration of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on Sunday, 11 May in Cape Town.

“I have been here since Monday to settle well and get ready for the race. This is the race where I first ran internationally and I ended up finishing fourth on the day,” confirms Rutto.

Rutto returns to the race where he launched his international career back in 2022 - finishing in a respectable fourth position in a then personal best time of 28:25. Improving his lifetime best to 27:55 when he took third at the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, the Kenyan top runner has gone on to an outstanding international career launched from the platform of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. The 23-year-old who won the 2024 Rome Marathon in a new course record 2:06:24 says he is aiming to reign supreme comes race day.

“Even though I am now a marathon runner, I still have speed. I have been inspired by Mokoka who set a 50km World Record but still comes to 10km to give us problems. My target here is to be able to run beyond my personal best time. I'm here to run fast and win the race, " explains Rutto, who trains in Iten in Kenya and ran 2:11:37 to take fourth place at last month’s Vienna Marathon.

Challenging Rutto for top honours is Elroy Gelant who set a new South African Marathon record of 2:05:36 at the Hamburg Marathon on Freedom Day. Kabelo Mulaudzi with a 27:53 lifetime best will be aiming for another podium finish while South African road running legend Stephen Mokoka will be putting his speed to the test. 38-year-old Gelant who earned second in last year's edition of the race with a 27:54 finish, says he is not going to run fast especially after becoming the first South African to break 2:06 in a marathon barely a fortnight ago.

"I'm going to take it easy on Sunday as you know I have just ran a marathon. To run 2:05 requires a lot of hard work. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to be competitive in the race. The most important thing is to approach the race in a good way and aim for a good day,” said Gelant.

As the RUN YOUR CITY SERIES celebrates 10 years since the first event was held in Cape Town in 2015, Gelant has applauded its organisers for using it as a platform to motivate the country's athletes to run fast times. "In the past, we didn't have athletes running fast times. It was Mokoka alone leading the way. But thanks to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES we have gone to witness some wonderful performances. This is the kind of competition we actually need to enhance the level of sport,” said Gelant.

Image: Shawn Benjamin

In the women's race, South African 10km record holder Glenrose Xaba is eyeing a 32-minute clocking in ‘The Mother City’. The 30-year-old Boxer Athletics Club road running star is in a good form having scooped both the 5 000m and 10 000m SA titles. “I have special memories in Cape Town as I have won a couple of races here. Plus I set a national marathon record (2:22:22 at the 2024 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon), so I want to continue with that. I'm not looking at the specific time but if I can run under 32 minutes and win the race, I'll be happy," she said.

Xaba will face tough competition from Ethiopia’s Selam Gebre, Lesotho national 10k record holder (32:01) Neheng Khatala, Lebo Phalula and Cacisile Sosibo to mention just a few.

Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Absa's Head of Sponsorships, says, “We are excited to kick-off the 10th annual Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K, as runners take their stories to the streets of the Mother City”.

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.