Faith Cherono confirms entry for Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10km

Her entry comes shortly after world number one-ranked 10km runner Brenda Jepchirchir also confirmed she will compete in the Eastern Cape showpiece.

Event organisers Stillwater Sports have once again assembled a world-class field, leaving no stone unturned in attracting some of the continent’s elite athletes.

The first of the five legs will be staged in Gqeberha on 1 March, with 10 000 runners expected to line the streets of the Friendly City in what is already a sold-out race. The winners in both the men’s and women’s races will each walk away with R33 000 in prize money.

With East Africa’s finest set to dictate the pace, a sub-30-minute performance is anticipated in the women’s contest in what promises to be a fast and highly competitive race.

Cherono, who began her career as a 5000m specialist and cross-country athlete, first caught the attention of the road running community in 2022 when she clocked a then personal best of 30:50 to finish fourth at the Adizero Road To Records race in Germany.

After stepping away from the sport due to health-related challenges, the 27-year-old has made a remarkable comeback.

Her steady return to form culminated in a scintillating lifetime best of 30:06 at last month’s Valencia 10K in Spain — a performance that now ranks her as the sixth fastest female 10km athlete of the 2026 season.

“Valencia's 10km course is very fast and there are many strong athletes to run with. I am grateful to have made a comeback after a break which was health-related. My improvement in Valencia was a result of lots of hard work with my teammates, including Brenda. It took a lot of time to fight back, and I am thankful to have made it,” said Cherono, reflecting on her impressive showing in Spain.

Now regarded as one of the most in-demand 10km runners globally, Cherono says she is looking forward to racing on South African soil.

“I enjoy racing around the world, and I am happy to head to South Africa. Running fast on African soil, supporting serious and professional race organisers is important to me as a Kenyan woman,” she told SABC Sport.

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Local stars such as South African 10km record holder Glenrose Xaba and former national 10km champion Tayla Kavanagh are expected to benefit from the presence of the Kenyan contingent, which should ensure a blistering pace from start to finish.