Uganda’s Abdallah Mande who finished 4th in the 2018 FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, opens his 2019 racing account by returning to the Mother City on Sunday, 19 May to try and improve on his performance of last year.
The 23-year-old who finished 5th at the 2014 World Junior Championships in the 10 000m, has fast adapted to the roads. With his 27:46.27 PB in the 10 000m run in Leiden in 2017, Mande has shown he has some serious speed in his legs. Mande improved rapidly in the short time since he has hit the roads, going from a 60:51 on debut in the half marathon in 2017 to a 60:14 in 2018.
At the 2018 FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN Mande was part of a lead pack of 9 runners who went through the 10km mark together in 28:28 before a surge by defending champion, Morris Gachaga, as they emerged from the Company Gardens ripped the pack apart. Mande lost traction with the leading trio on the short climb up Wale Street and had to settle for 4th. Just like John Langat who has already confirmed his attendance at the 2019 showpiece, Mande knows the race will most likely unfold in the final two kilometers. The first 10km of the race do not easily allow for a breakaway.
“I have become stronger since 2018 and expect to be able to handle the attack on the short climb (up Wale Street) and the fast finish (down Bree Street) much better this year. 12km was a bit of an unusual distance for me, so when the attack came, I wasn’t quite sure how to respond,” said Mande.
Mande traditionally races sparingly in the season, even giving the cross country season a miss this year. It is just that habit of racing sparingly that has seen his meteoric success in a short time. Since 2015 he has not finished outside the top ten in any race he’s lined up in, the lowest position secured in the 2018 season was 7th at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon in New Delhi in October. The other four races he ran in 2018 saw Mande finish inside the top five.
His consistency will certainly have the opposition sit up and take note come race day on Sunday 19 May. No one who is continuously threatening a podium position can be ignored, and Mande is one such athlete. It is only a matter of time before he not only podiums regularly, but also finds himself on the top rung of the podium more often than not.
Mande is part of an exciting group of young Ugandans which are taking the middle distance fight to the traditional powerhouses, Kenya and Ethiopia and racing in the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN on Sunday 19 May in an IAAF Bronze Label Race, means he will be exposed to a deep field of athletes; which in turn will see his performances improve dramatically.
It is no secret that the FNB Run Your City Series has opened doors for athletes globally and will continue to do so.
EVENT INFORMATION: FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN
| Date: | Sunday, 19 May 2019 |
| Start Venue: | Woodbridge Island, c/o R27 and Loxton Road, Milnerton (Cape Town) |
| Finish Venue: | Bree Street (Cape Town, CBD) |
| Entry Fee: | Standard Entry: R185 (licensed) / R225 (unlicensed)
Gold Package Entry: R850 (licensed) / R890 (unlicensed) |
| Entries Close: | Monday, 06 May 2019 |
Charity Support: When entering online, runners can choose to make a monetary donation towards either or all four of the FNB Cape Town ONERUN Charities: 1. help2read, 2. Cotlands, 3. Die Burger Kinderfonds and 4. The Cape Of Good Hope SPCA.
This year each event charity has also been allocated x100 entries which will be available at R500 each. When entering online, runners can choose this specific entry option. The proceeds will go directly to the selected charity.
Facebook: Ctown12 / @help2read / Cotlands / CapeofGoodHopeSPCA / Die Burger Kinderfonds
Twitter: @CTown12 /@help2read / @Cotlands / @CapeSPCA
Instagram: CapeTown_12 /help2readsouthafrica / Cotlands / CapeSPCA
Hashtag: #FNBRunYourCity
Website: www.thecapetown12.com
About the FNB Run Your City Series:
FNB is proud to once again bring you the FNB Run Your City Series which comprises of three unique mass participation events that integrate business involvement, family, diversity, investment in community, world class achievement and fun for all participants, both individuals and businesses alike.
Each of the races are developed to take participants through the historical routes around each city, thereby adding a tourism element to each race, making it more than a race but an economic opportunity for each community.
The FNB Run Your City Series is made up of three races around South Africa, namely, the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN and the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN.
For further information please visit www.runyourcityseries.com
ENDS
ISSUED BY: Newsport Media
ON BEHALF OF: FNB Run Your City Series a Stillwater Sports Initiative