CitySurfRun race favourite smashes SA record

UGANDA’S Joshua Cheptegei was touted as the race favourite at the inaugural FNB Durban 10km CitySurfRun and the 21-year-old World Championship 10 000m silver medallist delivered, when he smashed the South African All-Comers Record of 27:55 set by Richard Limo in Port Elizabeth in 2004. Cheptegei crossed the line in 27:28 for the fourth fastest time in the world this year, as well as a Ugandan national record.

If that wasn’t enough, 19-year-old Mercyline Chelangat also ran a national Uganda record in the women’s race, while Julien Wanders set a Swiss national record.

The first kilometre saw a bunch of approximately 20 athletes fly past in 2:47, but within the second kilometre the pace had been upped remarkably and went past in 2:42, spitting out close on 10 athletes from the front bunch. The pace then settled into 2:45/km but even that was too fast for the bunch and by the 4km mark the pack had been whittled down to four.

Surprisingly, the worlds’ fastest 12km runner, Morris Gachaga was not able to go with the brutal pace; neither was SA 5000m Record Holder, Elroy Gelant as Joshua Cheptegei surged at 4km, taking SA 10km record holder, Stephen Mokoka, Swiss sensation, Julien Wanders and countryman, Stephen Kissa with him.

“The wind came up and did affect us,” said Cheptegei after the race. “But I am very happy. A national record and my PB, yes I am very happy. We were running hard, we wanted a fast time. The first few kilometres were not consistent in terms of splits, so I wanted to make sure we ran more consistently. Also I felt good and I could see the others were struggling a bit.”

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