'I've heard great things about the Absa RYC' - Sub 30 min Brenda Jepchirchir to race Absa GQEBERHA 10K

Fresh off a stunning victory at the prestigious Valencia 10K in January - a performance that propelled her to the top of the 2026 world rankings – Kenya's Brenda Jepchirchir has confirmed her highly anticipated South African debut. The world-leading star will toe the line at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday, 1 March 2026, setting the stage for an exhilarating showdown on the streets of Nelson Mandela Bay.

The 20-year-old Kenyan grabbed headlines when she clocked 29:25 to win the highly competitive 10km race in the Spanish city of Valencia on the 11th of January. It is a performance that has made Jepchirchir a precious commodity for 10km race organisers around the world, yet she chose to follow the likes of Genzebe Dibaba and Yelamzerf Yehualaw and race in South Africa because of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series' reputation for producing world class times.

Kenya's Brenda Jepchirchir has confirmed her highly anticipated South African debut. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I've heard great things about the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and the Gqeberha 10K. The course is known for being fast, the organisation is excellent, and the competition is strong. I’m excited to experience racing in South Africa and to be part of such a high-energy event," she said.

Achieving that maiden sub 30 minute 10km clocking was a culmination of many months of consistent preparation. And having recovered well from that watershed performance and thrown herself back into training, the now joint-fourth fastest 10km female athlete of all time, is looking forward to delivering a run to delight the thousands of runners that will line up alongside her in 'The Friendly City.'

The start of the 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K. Photo Credit: Anthony Grote

It was an amazing feeling and a very special moment for me. Valencia is such a competitive race, so winning there and breaking 30 minutes for the first time meant a lot," Jepchirchir explained. "The biggest factor has been consistency. Over the last six months I've been able to train well, stay healthy, and really build momentum. On 1 March, the goal is to put

together a strong race, compete well, and see what time is possible on the day. If conditions are right, I'd love to run fast again, but the focus must also be on execution and racing smart."

"We're excited to welcome Brenda Jepchirchir to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K," said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. "To have the current world No.1, fresh off a sensational win in Valencia, choose to make her South African debut at our event speaks volumes about the stature of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series. Brenda’s presence raises the bar once again and guarantees an exciting, world-class race for both elite and recreational runners on the streets of Nelson Mandela Bay."