Kabelo Mulaudzi aims for a third victory at the ABSA Run Your City Tshwane 10K

THE ABSA RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K will once again have a Comrades Marathon feel about it as short distance specialist Kabelo Mulaudzi looks to defend his title from last year.

The Boxer Athletic Club star is favourite to win a third race of the popular series having been victorious in Gqeberha and Durban already this year.

The exciting news though is that – like last year – a good number of ultra marathon specialists have signed up for the race as they begin the new season in earnest.

Comrades champion Tete Dijana is slowly becoming a part of the ABSA RYC family having also participated in the Durban leg earlier and is sure to be the star attraction among the social runners who delight in seeing their role models at the start line.

His teammate and former champion Edward Mothibi as well as the exciting Onalenna Khonkhobe, renowned for his front running at Comrades –will also be there, their club Nedbank RC sending a sizeable contingent which includes some speedsters from Lesotho such as Namkoe Nkhasi; Kenya and Ethiopia as they always do.

Multiple Comrades Marathon gold medalist Joseph Manyedi of Maxed Elite will also line up at the bottom of the Union Building for a race that will take the runners through the heart of the capital city before it finishes right where it began.

With the likes of former national marathon champion Tumelo Motlagale as well as current champion Bennet Seloyi on the start list, the Absa Run Your City Tshwane10K promises to be a thrilling contest. Seloyi’s 28:12 PB is the fourth fastest of the lot and suggests he will be among those who will give Mulaudzi some competition.

Ethiopia’s Akilu Asfaw has a 28:03 with Nkhasi and Mulaudzi the only runners with a sub 28 PB.

In the women’s race, Hollywood Athletics Club’s Irvette van Zyl will carry the ultra marathoner’s torch, the amiable veteran athlete making her debut in her hometown race.

Fresh from a fantastic Comrades debut in which she finished in fourth place, Van Zyl says she’s planning to get a ‘sneaky’ podium finish. Though a long distance runner, the Pretorian is also very good in the 10km and is the fourth fastest of the women who will toe the start line.

Glenrose Xaba is expected to defend the title she won last year but she faces stiff competition from her Ethiopian nemesis Selam Gebre who goes into the race fresh from winning the Totalsports Women’s Race Johannesburg last weekend.

Local running’s three Karabo’s – Mailula of Tuks, More and Motsoeneng of Boxer AC – will be among the contenders as will Cacisile Sosibo, Kyla Jacobs and Rutendo Nyahora.

The race is scheduled for an 8am start.