Seen here: The elite men’s field in action during the inaugural event in 2015. In the mix was Gladwin Mzazi, Elroy Gelant, Emmanuel Bett, Daniel Salel and Timothy Toroitich. Photo Credit: Tobias Ginsberg
Not only will Stephen Mokoka and Elroy Gelant take the challenge to the defending Champion Emmanuel Bett, runner up Daniel Salel and third placed Timothy Toroitich, but they will have ample support from the likes of Gladwin Mzazi, Joel Mmone and Mariano Eesou at this year’s Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN.
Both Mokoka and Gelant have repeatedly said they are not happy that Bett won in 2015, or that the top three positions were not South African. Mzazi is looking to get into shape for a good 10 000m race in Europe to qualify for the Olympics and will be using the Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN to lay down as a marker in the hopes of securing an invite to Europe. “We don’t want to let Bett, Salel and Toroitich have their own way. We learned a lot from last year and know how to race them now,” said Mzazi who finished sixth in 2015.
Whilst the big challenge is expected to come from Mokoka and Gelant, do not write off up and coming Mariano Eesou. The 24-year-old has been setting personal bests in 2016 in every race he has entered. Eesou has gone from a 14:41.16 personal best on 7 April to 14:15.50 within the space of less than three weeks. In a tactical 10 000m race at the National Championships in Stellenbosch on 16 April he finished seventh (29:31.25) and has clocked 29:36 this year. His previous best over the 10km was 29:44 in Port Elizabeth in 2014.
“Mariano has not had much exposure to the track,” his manager Perry Beningfield said, “So we are very excited about his rapid improvement. Come 15 May he will not be there to make up the numbers.”
Joel Mmone too has had a good 2016, in particular on the road. He finished eighth at the National 10km Championships (29:53) in Sasolburg in early February and was fourth at the Two Oceans Half Marathon in 63:56 on a very tough course.
Whilst there has been no formal decision made yet by the athletes around racing as a team, the talk has already started to look at the possibility of racing against Bett, Salel and Toroitich as a united entity.
In the inaugural Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN, Bett (Kenya) beat Salel by dipping across the line in a sprint finish that saw the two miss the World Best by 1 sec. Both were timed at 33:32. With a slight change in the route, it is hoped that the World Best for 10km will go on Sunday 15 May.
EVENT INFORMATION:
| Date: | Sunday, 15 May 2016 |
| Time: | 09:00 |
| Start Venue: | Woodbridge Island, c/o R27 and Loxton Road, Milnerton (Cape Town) |
| Finish Venue: | Absa Building, Portside c/o Mechau and Bree Streets (Cape Town, CBD) |
| Entry Fee (Standard Individual Package): | 12km (licensed runner) / R120.00 |
| 12km (unlicensed runner) / R140.00 | |
| Gold Package: | 12km (licensed runner) R650 |
| 12km (unlicensed runner) R670 |
Charity Support: When entering online, runners can choose to support either or both of the Absa Cape Town ONERUN Charities: The Cape Of Good Hope SPCA and Die Burger Kersfonds.
Facebook: Ctown12 / CapeofGoodHopeSPCA
Twitter: @CTown12
For more information on: Die Burger Kersfonds email azelia.morkel@media24.com, Cape Of Good Hope SPCA visit www.spca-ct.co.za, Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN visit www.thecapetown12.com
About the Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN sponsorship:
The Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN race is sponsored by Absa Business. The sponsorship forms part of the Bank’s ongoing strategy to support national and community events that have the potential to grow and inspire. The Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN affirms our dedication to providing an experience that is beyond expectation, through sporting disciplines that advance our commitment to building, enduring and rewarding relationships across communities in which we operate.
ENDS
ISSUED BY: Newsport Media
ON BEHALF OF: Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN a Stillwater Sports Event