Eritrean Filmon Ande led the top three men at the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN to under the course record on Monday, 24 September 2018, while Irvette van Zyl capped an astonishing two days of racing by smashing the previous course record by almost 2 minutes, leading the top four women under the previous course record.<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s race started at a blistering clip up Harrison Road, with the first kilometre covered in around 2:40 before settling into a more reasonable pace. The first three kilometres though split the lead pack of 20 down to 10 with defending champion Thabang Mosiako, Elroy Gelant and course record holder, Namakoe Nkhasi in the mix.\u00a0 The bus, however, was being driven by Eritrea\u2019s Filmon Ande and Uganda\u2019s Mande Buschendich.<\/p>\n
As the pack headed down towards the Ellis Park Sports Complex around the 4km mark, before the first of two big climbs, the pack was whittled down some more and as they hit 5km in 14:25, it was down to five runners. Ande, Bushendich, Mosiako, Nkhasi and Jobo Khatoane with Gelant beginning to falter.<\/p>\n
By 8km, the lead was down to two with Ande and Buschendich going toe to toe up past Constitution Hill, before Ande broke away in the final kilometre, screaming home in 29:27, some 22 seconds inside of the previous record held by Nkhasi when he won in 2016 with 29:49. Second was Bushendich, clocking 29:37, with Nkhasi rounding out the top three in 29:40 \u2013 also inside the previous record.<\/p>\n
In the women\u2019s race, Irvette van Zyl was on a mission.\u00a0 This was her first appearance at the race and she meant business from the gun. The first kilometre was covered in 3:06. Three kilometres went by in 9:28 while 5km was covered in 16:28 as she started to hit the climbs. By then she was running on her own in the women\u2019s race with Susy Chebet and Glenrose Xaba, the defending champion, a good way off the pace. Comrades Marathon runner up, Gerda Steyn was having an impressive race and was closing down on the tiring Xaba whom she passed in the final 3km.<\/p>\n
There was no stopping the flying van Zyl who clocked the last 2km in 3:11 and 3:08 on the descent to the finish at Mary Fitzgerald Square. Van Zyl smashed through the finish ribbon in an incredible 33:51. A massive 1 minute and 40 seconds inside the previous course record of 35:34 set in 2016. The flying van Zyl had flown out of Cape Town the evening before the race where she had competed in a 10km which she won in her second fastest time ever of 32:48 \u2013 clearly van Zyl is hitting peak form a mere three months after giving birth to her second son.<\/p>\n
Kenya\u2019s Susy Chebet was second across the line, clocking 34:30 while Gerda Steyn came storming through to the finish in an impressive 35:01.<\/p>\n
\u201cI must be fitter than I thought,\u201d said van Zyl after the race. \u201cTo run two really good times back to back like this, means that I am reaching another level in my running. I had no idea where the other ladies were so I just kept on pushing. But I had no idea I was on record pace, so that is a pleasant surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe incredible success of this year\u2019s FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN, which included just over 13\u00a0000 runners and walkers, is a reflection of FNB\u2019s 180 year commitment to our beautiful country, our clients and stakeholders, and the city of Johannesburg,\u201d says Michael Vacy-Lyle, CEO at FNB Business.\u00a0 \u201cOver the years, the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN has become a community event where Joburgers get to experience their City in a special way. For us at FNB, it is an opportunity to spend the day with our customers in our City.\u00a0 We would like to congratulate all the athletes that continue to keep the race competitive, and a very special congratulations to Filmon Ande and Irvette van Zyl, for winning this leg of the FNB Run Your City Series.\u201d<\/p>\n
Starting in front of FNB Bank City, runners (and walkers) were treated to a 10km route experience that highlighted \u00a0iconic landmarks and featured lively performances by a host of Joburg\u2019s leading performing arts groups before finishing at the Mary Fitzgerald Square.\u00a0 Iconic landmarks featured on route included:\u00a0 the Nelson Mandela Bridge, FNB Bank City, Constitution Hill, Mary Fitzgerald Square, Wits University and <\/em>Ellis Park Stadium to mention just a few.<\/p>\n PRIZE PURSE<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 <\/strong>The 2018 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN boasted an impressive Prize Purse of R250\u00a0000.\u00a0 Prize money was allocated to the top 10 finishers in the Open Category (male and female).\u00a0 The winner of the 2018 event took home an impressive R30\u00a0000 prize, while the 2nd<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> place finishers secured R17\u00a0000 and R13\u00a0000 respectively. \u00a0The top 3 finishers in the junior, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+ categories were awarded R3000, R2000 and R1000 respectively.\u00a0 To view the entire Prize Purse breakdown CLICK HERE<\/a> \u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n CHARITY SUPPORT<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0 When entering online runners could choose to support one (or all three) of the event\u2019s charities:\u00a0\u00a0 the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, <\/strong>the Johannesburg SPCA<\/strong> and the Reach For A Dream Foundation.<\/strong><\/p>\n Zonkizizwe Athletics Club, as a hosting club, welcomed runners to experience the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN.\u00a0 Logistically, the club enlisted the services of 12 clubs of which they provided approximately 300 volunteers to help man the water stations ensuring that the runners were hydrated and refreshed with coke and iced water. To ensure the safety of runners, marshals and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) were stationed along the route. The JMPD also assisted with road closures and the manning of busy intersections to allow the runners safe passage on the route.\u00a0 The South African Police Service (SAPS) was also part of the race as security was paramount to both the Zonkizizwe Athletics Club and event organisers.<\/p>\n Facebook:\u00a0 <\/strong>Joburg-10K<\/a><\/p>\n Twitter:\u00a0 <\/strong>@joburg10K<\/a><\/p>\n Instagram:<\/strong>\u00a0 @Joburg10K<\/a><\/p>\n Official hashtag:<\/strong>\u00a0 #J10krun<\/p>\n Website:<\/strong>\u00a0 www.joburg10k.com<\/a><\/p>\n NEXT UP<\/u>:\u00a0 2018 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN<\/strong><\/p>\n Celebrating its 2nd<\/sup> anniversary in 2018, the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN grants entrants the unique opportunity to explore their city on foot.\u00a0 In addition to lively on-route entertainment and rubbing shoulders with some of the world\u2019s best middle distance runners, the 2018 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN route will also highlight a number of Durban\u2019s iconic landmarks.<\/p>\n