Masai targets victory as Free State athletes gear up for inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K

Kenya’s Filex Masai Kibet will lead the international charge at the inaugural Absa RUN YOUR CITY MANGAUNG 10K on Sunday, 25 October 2026, as he targets his first Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series title. Meanwhile, athletes from across the Free State are eager to test themselves against some of the finest 10km runners from South Africa and abroad.

“I really enjoyed training and racing in South Africa. I was welcomed very warmly,” says Kibet who spent a few months based in Cape Town during a productive period which saw him win the 2026 Totalsports TWO OCEANS HALF MARATHON in April and take ninth position at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K in July.

“The Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series is world class,” he says when asked about his 28:13 debut on 12 July (at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K). “The race is well organised.”

That positive first experience of Africa’s premier 10km road running series is what has informed Masai’s decision to return. Armed with a new lifetime best of 27:19, set on his way to an impressive fourth-place finish at the Prague 10km Night Race on 5 September, Masai is determined to improve on his Durban performance when he lines up in Mangaung.

“I’m very happy with my results in Prague. After that PB I knew that I would be focusing on the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series race. I’m looking forward to giving a good performance and being on top of the podium.”

Also relishing the opportunity is 22-year-old, self-coached distance runner Anale Gabuza, who is determined to use the high-profile race to improve on his 33:10 10km personal best. The Athletics Free State (AFS) standout, who represented AFS at the ASA Cross Country Championships in Pretoria last month, says the opportunity to race against athletes he has previously only watched on television is about more than simply chasing a faster time. He sees it as a chance to measure himself against the country’s best and draw inspiration from them.

“I’m very excited because it will be my first Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series race. It has always been my wish to participate in the series. I’m prepared and ready.  If all goes well on the day, I will be happy with a sub-31. The elite runners are going to push me, and I’m confident I’m going to clock a new PB.”

Gabuza expressed his gratitude to organisers Stillwater Sports for bringing a race of this stature to the Free State. He believes bringing the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series to Mangaung will shine a spotlight on the province’s developing road-running talent, particularly athletes from rural communities who rarely get the opportunity to compete on such a stage.

“I want to thank the organisers from the bottom of my heart. It’s going to help elevate road running in our province. I’m going to run with athletes I have always wished to line up next to. I always see these guys on TV, so it’s a big thing for us to have a race of this stature here in the Free State.”

For Stillwater Sports Managing Director and Series Founder, Michael Meyer, bringing the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series to Mangaung is about more than delivering world-class racing; it’s about creating opportunities for local athletes to showcase their talent, gain valuable experience and be inspired to reach new heights.

“The opportunity to welcome international talent like Filex Masai Kibet to Mangaung, alongside some of the Free State’s most promising athletes, is what makes this inaugural event so special,” says Meyer. “Bringing the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series to Mangaung is about more than world-class racing; it’s also about inspiring the next generation of South African runners and creating opportunities for local talent to test themselves against some of the best athletes in the country and internationally.

EVENT DATES: 2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series 

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