"I have unfinished business" - Dibaba returning to run Absa RYC in Durban
After capturing the imagination of the local running public when she graced South African shores for the first time in May, Genzebe Dibaba has confirmed that she will be returning to the country to run only her second official 10km road race when she takes part in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10k. After making her 10km debut in Cape Town with a third place finish (31:02) in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10k, the 1500m World Record holder spoke about how much she had enjoyed the experience and wished to return.
Today organisers of the race which will take place on the 10th of July eThekwini confirmed that they had managed to secure the signature of one of the greatest female athletes of all time. "Having Genzebe Dibaba race in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K is a massive privilege and confirms that we are serious about bringing the best in the world to South Africa to race against SA’s finest on home soil. Our goal is to give South Africans world class competition and the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is doing just that,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series.
Despite her pedigree, the race will by no means be a stroll in the park for the multiple world record holder and Olympic medalist. In The Mother City she was beaten by Uganda's Stella Chesang who set an SA All-comers record and Ugandan national record on the way to a scorching 30:40, as Kenya's Jesca Chelangat grabbed second place in 30:48. It means that the 31-year-old has a score to settle and has therefore turned down other opportunities in order to return to the Absa RYC.
"I have unfinished business, as I came here to win and run a fast time, so I will be back," were the Ethiopian's words after her third-place finish at the Cape Town event earlier this year. "I want to go better than Cape Town and improve the time set by Stella (Chesang). I know the route is geared for fast times and that conditions in Durban at that time of the year are near perfect, so I am excited to return to South Africa and run fast,” said Dibaba.
To catch a glimpse of the holder of 4 world records from close quarters, enter the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10k by clicking HERE. You also stand the chance to win a car! All runners (and walkers) that enter the 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K will stand a chance to win a stunning Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban vehicle on event day, Sunday 10 July 2022.