Mulaudzi shines again as Ndiwa triumphs in SA debut at Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K

Image: Anthony Grote

Kabelo Mulaudzi extended his sub 28-minute run to three consecutive races, clocking a personal best of 27:41 to win the highly contested Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 13 July 2025 as Kenya’s Clare Ndiwa crossed the finish line in 30:50 to triumph in the women’s race.  

Paced by Olympic 1500m semi-finalist Ryan Mphahlele and facing stiff competition from defending champion Elroy Gelant and the fastest man in the field, Vincent Kipkorir (27:08), Mulaudzi delivered a dominant performance on the day - capitalising on near-perfect racing conditions.

The Boxer Athletics Club ace broke away from the lead bunch just after the 8km mark to win his second straight Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race of 2025 after claiming victory in Cape Town on 11 May in 27:49. As he did in The Mother City, Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo finished as the runner-up to set a new national record of 27:47, while Kipkorir grabbed third in 27:48.

Speaking after the race, 27-year-old Mulaudzi said he was happy to take the win, even though the original goal was to challenge the South African 10km record of 27:28 set by Adrian Wildschutt at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K in April.

"The competition was good. The field was full of the fast guys. I'm very happy to win the race,” said Mulaudzi who is coached by Richard Mayer. “My target was to break the national record which ended up not happening today. I think the pace was a bit slow in the first 5km which is why I ended up missing the record.”

"It wasn’t meant to be, but this is not the end of the day, as I'll try to break the record again in future. For now my goal is to win the two remaining Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES events in TSHWANE and JOBURG.”

For winning the race (R30 000) in the fifth 27-minute 10km of his career and dipping under 27:45 (R80 000) Mulaudzi pocketed R110 000 in total as the top ten men finished inside 28:30 with veteran Stephen Mokoka finishing as the first 40-year-old in 28:37. 

In the women's race, Ndiwa made a resounding South African debut as she produced a lighting fast 30:50 in a tight finish against compatriot Janet Mutungi who came home three seconds after her. Pre-race favourite and 2022 champion Jesca Chelangat was third in 30:58 as Glenrose Xaba took fifth spot (31:50) to complete the race as the first South African woman. Speaking through a translator, the 20-year-old Ndiwa says she surprised herself to win the race.

"I'm happy to win, especially because it’s my first time racing in this country,” said Ndiwa. “The race was well-organized and the ladies gave me a tough time on the road. Surely, I'm going to come back to compete here in South Africa again.” 

“Boasting a sold out field of 10 000 runners, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K once again delivered world-class elite racing,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. “Congratulations to our men’s and women’s champions - Kabelo Mulaudzi and Clare Ndiwa - who proved to be the best of the best on the day. Durban’s fast, flat route never disappoints and continues to attract top performances. We are also incredibly grateful to the thousands of runners who took to the streets - your energy is what makes this event so special. Without you, none of this would be possible. A heartfelt thank you to all our event sponsors and partners for their unwavering support. Their continued commitment plays a pivotal role in elevating the standard of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES and allows us to deliver an unforgettable race experience for both elites and social runners alike.”

Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Absa's Head of Sponsorships, reflects: “What an incredible day at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K! The vibrant tapestry of our community truly came alive through every step, stride, and cheer. Whether you ran, walked, or supported from the sidelines, your presence made a powerful impact. We’re proud to continue driving our R1 campaign, for every kilometre logged by a Team Absa member on Strava to keep making every kilometre count.”

Charity Support: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES proudly supports the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) as the official charity of the entire series of events. A non-profit leader in the fight against cancer since 1931, CANSA enables research, educates the public and advocates for and supports all people affected by cancer, while leading SA towards a cancer-free society. When entering an Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES event online, runners can show their support by donating towards CANSA. 

Win a Chery Tiggo 4 Pro LiT Vehicle: Ricardo Moody was the lucky participant to drive home in a brand-new Chery Tiggo 4 Pro LiT to the value of R269 900.00 courtesy of the event’s official Vehicle Partner, Chery South Africa. 

Prize Purse: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES boasts an impressive, combined prize purse of R1 610 000.00 in 2025. Each of the five events will feature a total prize allocation of R322 000. Of this, R252 000.00 will be dedicated to the Open Category, with R126 000.00 awarded to the Top 10 Open Men and R126 000.00 to the Top 10 Open Women. The top male and female finishers in each city will receive R30 000.00 each, with R25 000.00 going to second-place finishers and R20 000.00 to third-place finishers. Additionally, R70 000.00 will be allocated to Age Categories. The Age Category prize pool will reward the top three finishers in the Junior, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, and 70+ age groups.

South African Athlete Incentives: The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES also has an unprecedented “SA Athlete Prize Incentive Schedule” for 2025. Applying to all five races, the incentive schedule offers bonuses for exceptional performances. In the men’s category, bonuses will start for times faster than 28 minutes, with a substantial R200 000.00 bonus for breaking the 27-minute barrier. For women, bonuses begin for times faster than 32:08 minutes, with an impressive R200 000.00 incentive for breaking the 30:23 mark.

To further raise the stakes, a bonus of R50 000.00 will be awarded to the South African athlete who breaks the SA 10km record (at the time of the race). It is important to note that the R50 000.00 will be awarded to the fastest time.