'It's the best feeling ever' - Mulaudzi wins fourth career Absa RYC race

Kabelo Mulaudzi produced the finest performance of his career to date, dominating a strong field to claim victory at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K on Sunday, 11 May, with a sensational new personal best of 27:49. Glenrose Xaba was unstoppable in the women’s race, powering to victory in a superb time of 32:00. Mulaudzi improved on his previous 10km best time by four seconds in what was his first Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES

victory since 2023 when he won three consecutive races in Durban, Tshwane and Joburg.

"I last won an Absa RUN YOUR CITY SEREIS race in 2023, so to finally win one again is the best feeling ever. I'm very happy with my performance today. In Gqeberha, I wanted to run a personal best time but it didn't happen and I ended up doing it today," explained the man affectionately known as 'Mr. Podium.'

Muluadzi runs the third sub 28 minute 10km clocking of his career. Photo Credit: Mark Sampson.

The 27-year-old controlled the race from the gun and then picked up the pace in the second half to cross the finish line first followed by Lesotho's Kamehelo Mofolo - who ran a lifetime best 27:53 which was just one second behind Namakoe Nkhasi’s national record. 40-year-old Stephen Mokoka rounded out the top three in a season’s best as the top ten men all dipped under 28:30. 

"The plan was to focus on my race and take the lead from the start. To be fair, I was scared seeing him (Kamehelo) coming for me but I told myself to push till the finish. Next, my focus is to run Durban (referring to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K) where I’m hoping to run another personal best time," said Mulaudzi who is only the second South African after Mokoka to win the Cape Town RUN YOUR CITY SERIES event since it’s inception in 2015.

For being the first man across the line (R30 000) and breaking the 28-minute barrier (R40 000), Boxer Athletics Club standout Kabelo Mulaudzi — coached by Richard Mayer — takes home a total of R70 000. Glenrose Xaba matches his earnings, pocketing R70 000 for winning the women’s race and finishing under the 32:08 incentive mark. Clocking an impressive 32:00, Xaba also made history by ending a nine-year drought for South African

women at the RUN YOUR CITY event in The Mother City.

Xaba ended a nine-year SA winless drought at the RUN YOUR CITY SERIES in Cape Town. Photo Credit: Mark Sampson.

"I'm very happy to win the race especially with the very good field of fast athletes. It's the first time I’ve got a podium finish in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K. In the past, I never ran well here. I'm always number six, five and never even had a fourth place, so to win today feels great," said a very happy Xaba who also grabbed third place at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 13 April.  

Selam Gebre finished second in 32:13 while the evergreen Lebo Phalula continued her mercurial 2025 form with her season sub 33 clocking of the year, producing 32:50 for the last podium position. 

"Congratulations to Kabelo Maluadzi and Glenrose Xaba on your exceptional performances today," says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder. "Cape Town is where the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES began, and it's only fitting that we celebrate our 10th anniversary with world-class racing in the Mother City. We're incredibly proud to have hosted a sold-out field of 15 000 enthusiastic runners who brought the streets of Cape Town to life. A heartfelt thank you to every runner and to all our valued sponsors - your support made this event truly unforgettable."

Milnerton was a ‘sea of red’ on Sunday 11 May 2025 with 15 000 runners (a sold-out field) celebrating the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES’ 10th anniversary at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K. Photo Credit: www.kapstadt.de

"Well done to all that participated in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K, and who joined Team Absa Walk Run on Strava. A huge congratulations to all. It was inspiring to see 15 000 people taking to the streets of the Mother City, with many different reasons for running, pushing themselves to achieve their individual goals and telling their running stories," said Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Head of Sponsorships at Absa. "Your stories have inspired us all, and we are immensely grateful for your contributions to our event. Thank you to our colleagues, volunteers, partner sponsors, and organisers who made this event possible."