After making a strong impression on the South African road running scene with a runner-up finish at the 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K, followed by a commanding victory at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K, Gideon Kipngetich is eager to kick off his 2025 campaign. The talented Kenyan will line up at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 13 April, with his sights set on building on last year’s success.

“My 2025 season is good so far. My training is going well,” Kipngetich shared this while discussing his preparations for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K, a race that will feature an SA 10km record attempt by Adriaan Wildschutt, the current South African 10 000m record holder with a time of 26:50.64.

The sold-out race in ‘The Friendly City’ will be a first race at sea level for the East African top runner who outfoxed the likes of Elroy Gelant and Kabelo Mulaudzi when he ran a lifetime best 28:42 to finish second behind Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo on a hilly route at altitude in Tshwane last August. Kipngetich is relishing the opportunity to perform on the fast and flat Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K route which produced Precious Mashele’s national record of 27:35 in 2023.

“I enjoyed myself in Tshwane and Joburg, especially see all the runners who came out to support the event. I think I will do well at sea level. My target is to run 27 minutes at least and finish on top!” confirms Kipngetich.

Melikhaya Frans, a South African World Championships marathoner and prolific 28-minute 10km runner, also can’t wait to test himself against world class athletes in front of his home crowd at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday 13 April.

“What I love about the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES is that it brings the best runners to our doorstep and brings the red vibe to the City,” explained Frans, a local hero from Gqeberha.

“Training has been going well, although I have not raced hard for a while because I had a small niggle about five weeks ago. But I’m fully recovered now, and I will be very happy with a sub-28:30,” said the 2022 SA half marathon champion reflecting on his preparations towards a marathon later on in the season.

Also targeting a podium finish is Kipngetich’s compatriot Mercy Jebet Korir. Running in her first race on South African soil on Sunday 6 April, Korir won the demanding Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon in 1:17:06 which was almost two minutes clear of second place Nthabiseng Letokoto of Lesotho.

Speaking moments after that maiden victory on SA soil, Mercy Jebet Korir boldly declared her intentions for her Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES debut on Sunday 13 April, “I want to win. Definitely. My aim is to win!”

“We are proud to welcome Kenyan athlete Gideon Kipngetich back to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES in 2025 – this time at the season opener, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. “Kipngetich has proven himself to be a formidable force and is certainly one to watch on race day. Melikhaya Frans remains a proud ambassador for South African road running, and an Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race in Gqeberha simply wouldn’t be the same without him on the start line.

We’re also excited to welcome Mercy Jebet Korir, who will be making both her 10km and Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES debut. She delivered an outstanding performance at the Two Oceans Half Marathon, and we’re eager to see how she transitions to the 10km distance. These talented athletes join an already impressive line-up in Gqeberha. Together, they set the stage for an exciting start to the 2025 series.”