Kenyan dominance in road running circles continues to leave their opponents scratching their heads, wondering how to catch up. The recent Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10K race saw Vincent Largat and Diana Chepkorir from Kenya emerge as champions in the men’s and women’s races, respectively, despite some South African runners initially welcoming the competition.

Largat’s victory was particularly surprising as he wasn’t even part of the elite men’s pre-race conference, leading to some lamenting the absence of East African competitors. However, once the race began, Largat showed his prowess, pulling ahead to win with a time of 28:01. This left local favorites like Elroy Gelant and Precious Mashele trailing behind.

On the women’s side, Chepkorir, with an impressive personal best of 29:56, was favored to win. She lived up to expectations, finishing with a time of 31:15, ahead of Nancy Sang and Ethiopian Selam Gebre. Despite the strong performances from the Kenyan duo, some South African runners managed to make their mark, with Glenrose Xaba being the first South African woman to cross the finish line.

However, the windy conditions posed a challenge for many runners, including local favorite Thabang Mosiako, who finished fourth in the men’s race. Mosiako, who was expected to perform well due to his familiarity with the route and local conditions, expressed disappointment with the weather affecting his performance.

One notable achievement from the race was Blandina Makatisi breaking Lesotho’s national record by a mere second, finishing in fifth place with a time of 32:05. Despite the competitive field, none of the local runners were able to claim the incentives put aside for breaking national records or achieving fast times.

Looking ahead, there are still four more races in the series, with the next one being the Run Your City Cape Town 10K scheduled for May 12th. This provides an opportunity for both Kenyan and South African runners to continue showcasing their talents and pushing themselves to new heights.

Overall, the Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10K highlighted the ongoing rivalry between Kenyan and South African athletes in the road running scene. While the Kenyan runners continue to dominate, the South African contingent is not far behind, constantly striving to narrow the gap and make their presence felt on the international stage. With each race, both sides will undoubtedly bring their A-game, ensuring thrilling competition and memorable performances for spectators and participants alike.

 

Read More:-�� South Africa���s Shaun Maswanganyi Sets New National Record in Sprinting in the US