Yehualaw to challenge Women's only WR at Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

Yalemzerf Yehualaw says she will go after the women's only World Record at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on the 9th of July. The Ethiopian whose 29:14 stands as the World Record for women running in a mixed race, will now look to better the 2021 mark of 30:01 set by Kenya's Agnes Tirop in a race run by women without the aid of male pacemakers. Yehualaw who confirmed her first trip to race in South Africa last month, says she is looking forward to making history.

"I'm really excited to be running the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. I've heard many good things about the race and that it is known as a fast course. I like to challenge myself and run fast so I will be looking to leave a legacy and write athletics history in Durban," said Yalemzerf Yehualaw from her training base in Addis Ababa where she prepares under the watchful eye of her coach, Tessema Abshero.

Because this will be the first ever athletics World Record attempt on African soil, it is fitting that it should take place at a race that has a proven track record for producing fast times. In 2018 Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei set a new SA All Comers 10km Record of 27:16. Switzerland's Julien Wanders clocked 27:32 during the same 2018 race to set a new European record. Maxime Chaumeton became the first South African to break 28 minutes on home soil when he ran 27:58 in 2022, while Jesca Chelangat’s 30:41 in 2022 took 14 seconds off the previous SA All Comers Record.

If Yehaulaw manages to go beyond 30:01 it would be the first time that a 10km world record is run on the African continent. Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series says just as it was in the past, the 2023 event is set to deliver historic performances.

"We have seen some incredible performances at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K over the years. Traditionally Durban experiences near perfect weather conditions for running in July. With the separate starts for men and women, the deep field and the fast course, we may well be in for something special in the women’s race. An athlete with the calibre of Yalemzerf (Yehualaw) is capable of doing incredible things."

To be part of this once in a lifetime experience, enter the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K by clicking HERE. Social runners and walkers are welcome to join in the fun where you could win a stylish Chery Tiggo 4 Pro Urban Vehicle to the value of R308 900.00 compliments of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series and event partners CherySouth Africa and Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance just for entering the race.