KENYAN elite road-runner, Daniel Simu Ebenyo, was the winner of the inaugural ABSA Run Your City Gqeberha 10K that took place from Kings Beach on Sunday.
The race drew more than 3 000 athletes, from across the country and outside South Africa. Ebenyo started with a fast pace but it was not easy for the Kenyan runner. Ultimately, Ebenyo was the first runner home with a time of 27:21, with South African runner Precious Mashele breaking the national record in a time of 27:35.
Mashele broke the eight-year-old SA record of Stephen Mokoka, who ran a 27:38 in 2015. The third runner home was South African Thabang Mosiako, who finished the race with a time of 27:52.
Speaking with the PE Express correspondent, Ebenyo said that he was not happy with his performance.
“I am not happy with my performance, because I wanted to finish with a time of 26 minutes, but I will improve my performance in Cape Town. I had never lost 10km in my road running career. Nevertheless, it is early in the year but I will have to work very hard,” said Ebenyo.
In the senior ladies’ elite runners, Ethiopian runner Bekelech Teku Wariyo was triumphant after she crossed the finish line in 31:36.
The second runner, Frida Ndinda, from Kenya, recorded a time of 31:41 while the Ugandan Docus Ajok finished the race with the time of 32:15.
“I am very excited with my performance. I have run according to my plan. But the competition was tough,” said Ndinda.
