Kabelo Mulaudzi extended his sub 28-minute run to three consecutive races, clocking a personal best of 27:41 to win the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K as Kenya’s Clare Ndiwa won the women’s race in 30:50.
Paced by Team SA’s Olympic 1500m semi-finalist Ryan Mphahlele and facing stiff competition from defending champion Elroy Gelant
and the fastest man in the field, Vincent Kipkorir (27:08), Mulaudzi delivered a dominant performance.
The Boxer Athletics Club ace broke away from the lead bunch just after the 8km mark to win his second straight Run Your City Series race of 2025 after claiming victory in Cape Town in May in 27:49. Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo again finished as the runner-up to set a new national record of 27:47, while Kipkorir grabbed third in 27:48.
Speaking afterwards, 27-year-old Mulaudzi said he was happy to take the win, even though the original goal was to challenge the South African 10km record of 27:28 set by Adrian Wildschutt in April.
“The competition was good. The field was full of the fast guys. I’m very happy to win the race,” said Mulaudzi who is coached by Richard Mayer. “My target was to break the national record which ended up not happening today. I think the pace was a bit slow in the first 5km which is why I ended up missing the record.”
For winning the race (R30,000) in the fifth 27-minute 10km of his career and dipping under 27:45 (R80,000) Mulaudzi pocketed R110,000 in total as the top ten men finished inside 28:30 with veteran Stephen Mokoka the first 40-year-old in 28:37.
In the women’s race, Ndiwa made a resounding South African debut as she produced a fast 30:50 in a tight finish against compatriot Janet Mutungi who came home three seconds after her. Pre-race favourite and 2022 champion Jesca Chelangat was third in 30:58 as Glenrose Xaba took fifth spot (31:50) to complete the race as the first South African woman.
Photo: Anthony Grote
