The final of the FNB Run Your City Series took place in Durban on 14 October and had assembled a stellar field, both local and international to run against some 7000 runners who were out for fun. For the first time, there were timing splits at 3km, 5km, 7.11km, 7.21km (the Puma 100m sprint) and 9km. The Puma 100m sprint is part of the series for runners to see how fast they can cover a 100m sprint in the middle, or near the end of race. While Joshua Cheptegei was the winner overall in an incredible 27:16 (more on that later), the fastest 100m split timed was that of Uganda’s Stephen Kissa who was timed at 15seconds.
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda came back to defend his title and smashed a 27:16 – the fastest ever seen on South African soil and therefore an All Comers Record. It was also the second fastest time of the year in the World. In the process Cheptegei pulled Switzerland’s Julien Wanders to a Swiss and European record of 27:32 – some 30seconds faster than his previous best. The first 17 men went under 30 minutes (arguably one of the fastest, if not the fastest ever 10km seen in South Africa).
The ladies race was won by Uganda’s Stella Chesang who smashed the course record of 31:38 by crossing the line in 31:14. A Ugandan record, the 11th fastest time in the world, and a mere second of the 31:13 SA All Comers Record of Elana Meyer. Irvette van Zyl capped a phenomenal 2018 by finishing third, just missing the 32minute barrier by clocking 32:06. This a mere four months after giving birth to he
r second son.