Morris Gachaga of Kenya will be back in action, this time at the inaugural FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN, on Sunday, 08 October 2017.\u00a0 Gachaga ran the fastest time ever for 12km earlier this year when he won the 2017 FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN.<\/p>\n
The announcement was made on Tuesday morning 12 September, barely a week after the organisers made it known that the World Championships 10 000m Silver Medallist, Joshua Cheptegei\u00a0 of Uganda had been secured for Durban, along with South Africa\u2019s 10km Record Holder, Stephen Mokoka.<\/p>\n
Gachaga flew to a 33:27 win in Cape Town in the 12km race, taking 4 seconds off the previous best time of 33:31 set at the Bay to Breakers race in 2009 by Sammy Kitwara.<\/p>\n
The announcement of Gachaga\u2019s entry re-emphasizes the organiser\u2019s desire to see the world\u2019s fastest time over the 10km distance for 2017. That time was lowered from 27:18, run by Bernard Kimeli of Kenya in April this year, to 27:10 on Saturday 09 September 2017 in Prague by the same athlete.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot wait to come back to South Africa. The last time I was here I ran a world best time. Maybe South Africa is a good hunting ground for me. Hopefully I can do it in the 10km too,\u201d said Gachaga from Kenya.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have worked very hard since Cape Town,\u201d said Gachaga\u2019s coach, Bruce Lahti. \u201cSince his run at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN, Morris (Gachaga) has been brimming with confidence and really believes that he can do something special in Durban.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is good to hear that Joshua (Cheptegei) is running with us in Durban. With him in the field you know the race will be tough.\u00a0 You also know that he will make sure it is a fast race,\u201d said Gachaga.<\/p>\n
With both Gachaga and Cheptegei in the field there is a strong possibility that the world\u2019s fastest time of 27:10 for 2017, could fall. Gachaga ran 27:27 in Casablanca in 2016 and Cheptegei was clocked at 26:49.94 in winning his silver medal at the World Championships in London this over the 10 000m.<\/p>\n
Cheptegei and Gachaga are, however, not the only athletes to enter the fray. Another Ugandan, Stephen Kissa has been added to the field as has 23-year-old Philemon Cheboi. Kissa boasts a best of 28:28 for the 10km when he finished third in the TCS Bangalore 10km Road Race, while Cheboi is not far off the 28min barrier having clocked 28:05 in Berlin in 2015.<\/p>\n
According to Gachaga, this line up will keep the race \u201chonest\u201d.\u00a0 \u00a0Gachaga says that with Cheptegai, Kissa and Cheboi in the line-up, the race will not be a tactical one. \u201cThey all like to run fast and hard.\u00a0 Together with South Africa\u2019s Stephen Mokoka, we know there can be no sitting back. We will have to run hard from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another big name to look out for on the day will be Lesotho\u2019s Namakoe Nkhasi.\u00a0 Speaking from his training ground in Soweto, Namakoe is looking forward to Durban. \u201cThese guys race fast. Since I\u2019ve started racing against them, my times have improved.\u00a0 I finished second behind Morris (Gachaga) at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN.\u00a0 I had to run really hard to stay with him.\u00a0 With Morris (Gachaga), Joshua (Cheptegai) and Philemon (Cheboi) in the field, I know that the race will be hard and fast.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bringing some of the best athletes in the World to South Africa has certainly caused a stir in the road running fraternity.\u00a0 According to KZN Athletics President, Sello Mokoena, having such an impressive line-up will both benefit the sport, and solidify Durban\u2019s place as a sporting Mecca in South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have waited a long time for something like this to come to South Africa,\u201d says Mokoena.\u00a0 \u201cJoshua Cheptegei, Morris Gachaga and Stephen Kissa – these names will put Durban on the international map of road running.\u00a0 Being able to see this kind of talent on our shores can only inspire our next generation of athletes.\u00a0 We are very excited to be hosting this event.\u201d<\/p>\n
EVENT INFORMATION<\/u>:\u00a0 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN<\/strong><\/p>\n Iconic landmarks to look out for on the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN route will include:\u00a0 the Moses Mabhida Stadium, City Hall and the Durban Railway Station to mention just a few.<\/p>\n