Kenyan athlete Asbel Kiprop Rutto has laid down the gauntlet to South Africa’s stars ahead of the Absa Run Your City Cape Town 10km. “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,” Rutto warned.
In 2022 Rutto produced a personal best of 28min 22sec, and subsequently improved it to 27:55 when he took third at the 2023 Run Your City Durban 10km. He arrived in Cape Town having won the 2024 Rome Marathon in a course
record 2:06:24 and looks the one to beat in the men’s elute field.
South Africa’s best chances would appear to lie with Elroy Gelant, the 38-year-old who set a new South African marathon record of 2:05:36 at the Hamburg Marathon in April.
Kabelo Mulaudzi – a 27:53 PB – will be aiming for another podium finish while South African road running legend Stephen Mokoka will be putting his speed to the test.
Gelant was runner-up in teh Cape Town 10km last year in 27:54 and 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.
In the women’s race, South African 10km record holder Glenrose Xaba is eyeing a sub- 32-minute run. The 30-year-old Boxer Athletics Club star is in a good form having scooped both the 5 000m and 10 000m track titles at teh recent National Championships.
“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 and Lesotho national 10km record holder (32:01) Neheng Khatala,
