Seen here: Elroy Gelant and Glenrose Xaba claim gold at the FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN.
Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg
Taking the Maputo City Day celebrations to new heights on Sunday 10 November 2019, the much anticipated FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN saw South Africans Elroy Gelant and Glenrose Xaba claim gold in the open men’s and women’s race with notable times of 29:06 and 33:10 respectively.
SA 5000m record holder and IAAF Silver Label athlete, Gelant claimed his first FNB Run Your City Series title on the day.
“We started as a bunch with Kabelo Seboko and Sibusiso Nzima,” says Gelant. “I broke away from the group at the 6km mark and ran alone until the finish. It’s an honour and history in the making because I am the first runner to win at the FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN. I am really happy with my run today. It’s a great event with great support along the route. I enjoyed the vibe the most. It really helped for the final kilometres to give us that push. It’s almost like an ‘island type’ vibe. Even after the event the support that we received from the people was amazing.”
“Crossing the Maputo-Katembe bridge was also a great honour,” continues Gelant. “It was really long and a bit steep in the beginning, but you don’t really feel it because of the ocean breeze. It was really a fantastic experience because I heard that no one really walks over the bridge. We were the first to set foot on the bridge. This is a great event with lots of potential. I am sure that the elite race will be even bigger next year. I will definitely be back to defend my title and hoping for a faster time.”
Sibusiso Nzima was second across the finish line, with Kabelo Seboko rounding off the podium.
Also an IAAF Silver Label athlete, Glenrose Xaba claimed her second FNB Run Your City Series title on the day, her first being at the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN in 2017.
According to Xaba she started the race with a group of men. “After the first kilometer I started to move alone until the finish. I am excited to win one of the FNB races again. Lately I’ve been finishing Top 5, so I am really happy to win today. The route is challenging, with a few hills. I enjoyed crossing the Maputo-Katembe bridge the most. We were told that it’s only cars that get to cross the bridge. So I am very excited to be the first lady to run over the bridge. I would definitely like to come back next year to defend my title.”
Fortunate Chidzivo came in second, while Rutendo Nyahora finished third.
The fourth and final event in the 2019 FNB Run Your City Series, the FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN is the first event to cross the newly built Maputo-Katembe bridge. As with its sister events in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, the 10km flat route is designed to take participants along the historic and iconic routes around each city, thereby adding a touristic element to it and making it more than a race, but also an economic opportunity for every community it passes through. Starting at the Katembe Municipal Building, participants were granted the opportunity to enjoy the landscape of Maputo city, passing by the iconic Tunduru Botanical Gardens, before finishing at Independence Square.
“The FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN was everything that we envisioned and more,” says Paulo Pereira, Deputy CEO of FNB. “Offering customers, families and friends a fun-filled journey through our city was an absolute honour and privilege. We are proud to be the first event in history to cross the Maputo–Katembe bridge on foot and that on a very special day, Maputo City Day. It’s an experience that will remain in the memory banks for years to come. We are excited to build on the experience and cannot wait to welcome everyone back in 2020 for an even bigger celebration.”
To view the overall RACE RESULTS visit: www.finishtime.co.za
To view the 2019 PRIZE PURSE BREAKDOWN visit: www.maputo10k.com
Facebook: @Maputo10K
Instagram: @Maputo10K
Website: www.maputo10k.com
For further information on the FNB Run Your City Series please visit www.runyourcityseries.com