Sports

Bushendich and Ande ready to challenge at FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN

Uganda’s Mande Bushendich and Eritrea’s Filmon Ande have been added to the elite men’s field for the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN that will take place on National Heritage Day (Monday, 24 September 2018).

Neither Bushendich nor Ande are strangers to South Africa as they ran in the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN on 20 May, where they finished 5th and 8th respectively.  The rarefied air of the Highveld shouldn’t prove to be too much of an issue for either athlete, as their training is generally done at altitude and despite the course being made slightly easier than in previous years, the pair will be less concerned with the route profile than with their opposition.

Defending Champion, Thabang Mosiako is constantly improving in form and openly admits that he prefers hilly terrain to flat courses. “I am strong on the hills. I tend to do better on hilly courses than on flat courses. So it doesn’t matter that Elroy (Gelant), Namakoe (Nkhasi) or the two foreigners are running. I will be ready and hungry to defend my title,” said Mosiako.

It is no surprise that the 23-year-old is confident. With virtually no weight to carry and slight of frame, he is the ideal build for the type of course that will be waiting for the athletes. But Bushendich and Ande are confident too and should not be taken lightly.

Bushendich has clocked a 29:00.19 for 10 000m in Kampala, Uganda – also at altitude. Telling though is his 9th place finish at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Algeria in March this year – one place and 3 seconds behind Ande. Still only 21, Bushendich is a diamond in the rough and could well be a tough nut to crack come 24 September.

Ande may have finished ahead of Bushendich in Algeria, but had to settle for finishing behind him in Cape Town at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN. Bushendich was 5th to Ande’s 8th with 11 seconds separating the two (35:55 to 34:06).

The two will not take the South African challenge likely though. Mosiako was 12th in Cape Town with a PB of 34:34 and Nkhasi was right behind Mosiako. The South African and Lesotho athlete will want to turn the tables on Ande and Bushendich so they will not be holding back. And neither will Elroy Gelant who is finding form again after his hernia operation in April.

This will be the first time that the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN will have an international contingent from further than Southern Africa.  The entries of Ande and Bushendich may well inspire more international athletes to cast an eye on the race which will certainly open up the competition further.  This can only be good for the standard of racing in South Africa. With such a star studded field, Namakoe Nkhasi’s course record of 29:49 may well be in danger of falling.

EVENT INFORMATION:  2018 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN

Starting in front of FNB Bank City, runners (and walkers) will be treated to a 10km route experience that will highlight iconic landmarks and feature lively performances by a host of Joburg’s leading performing arts groups.  Iconic landmarks to look out for will include: the Nelson Mandela Bridge, FNB Bank City, Constitution Hill, Mary Fitzgerald Square, Wits University and Ellis Park Stadium to mention just a few.

PRIZE PURSE:  The 2018 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN boasts an impressive Prize Purse of R250 000.  Prize money has been allocated to the top 10 finishers in the Open Category (male and female).  The winner of the 2018 event will take home an impressive R30 000 prize, while the 2nd and 3rd place finishers will take home R17 000 and R13 000 respectively.  The top 3 finishers in the junior, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+ categories will take home R3000, R2000 and R1000 respectively.  To view the entire Prize Purse breakdown visit the event website: https://bit.ly/2L1iEnv

EXCITING ON ROUTE ACTIVATION:  A highlight at the 2017 event, the exciting #ForeverFaster PUMA ‘Beat Bolt’ sprint will once again be the source of much excitement and #FastTimes.  Runners will need to give their all over a 100m sprint (as part of the event route).  This section of the route will be timed. The runner (male and female) to clock the fastest time over  the 100m will take home a PUMA shopping voucher to the value of R10 000.

CHARITY SUPPORT:  When entering online runners can choose to support one (or all three) of the event’s charities:   the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation, the Johannesburg SPCA and the Reach For A Dream Foundation.

Zonkizizwe Athletic Club, as a hosting club, is ready to welcome runners to experience the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN.  Logistically, the club has enlisted the services of 12 clubs of which they will provide approximately 300 volunteers to help man the water stations ensuring that the runners are hydrated and refreshed with coke and iced water. To ensure the safety of runners, marshals and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) will be stationed along the route. The JMPD will also be there to assist with the road closures and the manning of busy intersections to allow the runners safe passage on the route.  The South African Police Service (SAPS) will also be a part of the race as security is paramount to both the Zonkizizwe Athletic Club and event organisers.

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