TSHWANE — DOREEN CHEROP made it two wins in a row as she captured the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Tshwane 10k on Sunday morning to add to her victory in Durban last month.
She was part of a Kenyan clean-sweep that saw her compatriot Salem Kibet reigning victorious in the men’s race as the east Africans left the local runners in their wake.
Cherop clocked 31:35 to beat South African star Glenrose Xaba into the silver medal position by just three seconds while another Kenyan Deborah Chemutai completed the podium in 31:59. Deon van der Merwe
Kibet, meanwhile, won in 28:45 – narrowly missing Kamohelo Mofolo’s 28:40 course record. The Kenyan finished 10 seconds ahead of surprise runner-up Zenzile Pheko of Boxer Athletic Club who beat his teammate Chris Mhlanga into third place by a second.
Kibet said afterwards that he’d considered the record and was a bit disappointed not to have cracked it: “The course record was in my mind but I’ve lost it. But I think next time I’ll prepare for it because I’ve seen the ground the way it is and next time when I come, I will manage it.”
He lamented the weather, saying that he’d trained in much colder conditions than the warm Highveld climate they raced in this morning but was nevertheless still delighted to have broken the tape.
“I’ve been preparing for this race for almost a month. My preparation made me perform this way. The course was hard, but I’m happy I managed to win.”
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Her compatriot was over the moon at having completed the double and promised to keep racing in South Africa given the high quality of the organisation of the races.
“I am happy with my performance. It was a great race. I pushed in the first half and realised that Glenrose was strong. So, I made my move in the last kilometer and when she didn’t respond I pushed even harder.”
Cherop lauded the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series for giving athletes on the continent opportunities to run quality races.
“We will keep coming if the organises keep organising such beautiful races because this event was well organised.”
Next up in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is the Johannesburg leg on Heritage Day – September 24 before the inaugural Mangaung race brings the curtain down on the year on October 25.
