Veteran Phalula eyes Top 5 at Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K while Mofolo Targets maiden Sub-28
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Fresh off setting a new South African veteran’s record, Lebo Phalula - the fastest 40-year-old female over 10km in the country - is eagerly looking forward to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on Sunday, 11 May 2025.
In a remarkable display of longevity, Lebo Phalula delivered the second-fastest performance of her 25-year career, clocking 32:38 to secure fifth place at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 13 April. In the process, she set a new South African veteran’s record – a performance that has left her feeling confident and upbeat about her current form.
“I maintain that age is just a number,” said the excited 41-year-old Phalula. “I try not to think about the fact that I’m forty or I’m old, or whatever. I just tell myself that I’m young like those youngsters that are running brilliantly in South Africa. If I can keep telling myself that I’m young then I will do well. I’m happy.”
By finishing more than a minute inside her previous SA 40+ record of 34:01, the evergreen Phalula claimed her second consecutive top five finish in a major 10km race after producing 34:14 to take fifth position at the Cape Town leg of the SPAR Women’s Grand Prix on 30 March. Returning to ‘The Mother City’ on Mother’s Day for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K, this mother of one says she aims to secure a third consecutive top five finish.
“I want to do my best there (Cape Town). I’m done chasing records for now. I just want to enjoy my race. My aim is to be in the top four or top five. In my mind I’m young. People see me as forty, but in my mind I am twenty years old.”
Also aiming to deliver a second consecutive Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES top five finish is Kamohelo Mofolo. Having joined the KZN-based Xcel Running Club at the beginning of the year, the 21-year-old from Lesotho ran a personal best 28:11 to take fifth at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 13 April. Coached by American James McKirdy who guided Mofolo’s countryman Tebello Ramakongoana to a top ten finish at the Boston Marathon on Monday 21 April, Mofolo will no doubt be confident of delivering a maiden sub 28 minute 10km clocking at the Absa Run YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on 11 May.
“My dream is to compete overseas over 21km and 10km,” explained Mofolo, the man who announced himself to the South African road running public with a dramatic final kilometre victory at the 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K. “I must improve my times. So my target is to break Namakoe Nkhasi’s National Record (27:52). That’s my aim this year, to break my personal best.”
“We are proud to welcome both Lebo Phalula and Kamohelo Mofolo to the 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “Lebo continues to defy the odds at 41,
finishing fifth at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K and setting a new SA Veterans record in a time of 32:38 was nothing short of remarkable, while Kamohelo, at just 21, is proving to be a rising force. Their presence adds excitement and depth to this year’s event, which marks a decade of world-class racing in the Mother City. We can’t wait to celebrate this special milestone with them on the start line.”
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.
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