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The East African star last featured in the series in 2022, when she impressed by finishing ahead of multiple world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba in Cape Town.
With Durban known for its flat, fast coastal route, Chelangat will go head-to-head with in-form South African Glenrose Xaba, who recently claimed victory in the Cape Town leg of the series.
The race will begin at 8 a.m. on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, with over 10,000 sold-out entries expected to hit the streets and make their way to the finish line at Durban's Beachfront.
Local athletes like Taylor Kavanagh, Karabo Mailula, Cacisile Sosibo, and Lesotho’s 10km national record holder Neheng Khatala are expected to benefit from the presence of the top Kenyan athlete in the field.
The 27-year-old, who previously set the all-comers record of 30:41 in Durban, has confirmed she’s in peak condition ahead of the race.
Her return adds a competitive edge welcomed by South Africa’s national 10km, half-marathon, and marathon record holder Xaba, who is chasing another sub-32-minute finish.
“I really enjoyed racing in Durban — the support from the crowds along the route was amazing,” she told SABC Sport. “The series has been a big motivation for me. It helped me believe in myself and gave me the confidence to compete against strong fields.”
She added, “It’s always a pleasure to return to South Africa and race in well-organized events like the Run Your City series. I love being here.”
With a personal best of 30:01, Jessica Chelagat ranks among the fastest 10km runners in the world and heads into the Durban race as the favourite to claim the R30,000 winner’s prize.
The current course record stands at 30:07, set by Christina Njoki last year, but whether it falls will largely depend on the weather conditions on race day.
“Training has been going well, and I’ll give it my best shot to break the record or improve my time.
I believe my preparations have been solid—it’s now just a matter of seeing how my body responds on the day. I’m excited to be returning to South Africa,” she said
Issued on SABC Sport by Charles Baloyi | https://www.sabcsport.com/news/jessica-chelangat-to-challenge-local-runners-at-absa-run-your-city-10km-in-durban
