If there was any doubt that the 2019 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN on Sunday, 13 October 2019, will be the fastest 10km ever run on South African soil, those have been vehemently dispelled with the inclusion of Kenya’s Evaline Chirchir.
Chirchir is barely 21-years-old, but already boasts a repertoire that will make any contender sit up and take notice. She has set personal best times in every event that she has competed in, in 2019, everything from 10 000m on the track to the half marathon on the road.
While Sheila Chepkirui is still the odds-on favourite for victory having run the second fastest time ever over 10km with her 29:57 on 7 September this year, Chirchir will be relishing the opportunity to go head to head with the world fastest athlete of 2019.
“I am looking forward to Durban,” said Chirchir. “For me it is important to always challenge the world’s best and my time in Valencia earlier this year shows me that I am getting closer and closer to the top. So, I cannot wait for 13 October to take on Sheila (Chepkirui) and the other ladies.”
The Youngster is Rapidly Coming into Peak Form
Chirchir clocked 30:43 in Valencia on 13 January this year, a time that currently ranks her eighth on the 2019 world ranking lists. In that race, Chirchir ran 15:09 for 5km. Her run in Valencia set off a string of impressive performances and personal best times in six different distances. Those recent results show that she is coming into peak form at just the right time.
At the Kenyan trials for the World Championships in Doha for the 10 000m, Chirchir clocked 32:06.74 in Nairobi on 21 August. Nairobi lies at 1795m altitude. On September 15, Chirchir lined up at the prestigious and fast Copenhagen Half Marathon. This was only her third ever race over the distance and saw her improve from a best of 68:07 (Gifu, Japan – 28 April) to 66:22, a time that currently sees her ranked 13th on the world ranking lists for 2019.
Chirchir finished second in Copenhagen, however on her way to an almost two minute personal best time, Chirchir recorded times of 46:55 at 15km; 62:49 at 20km, before crossing the line in her new half marathon best time of 66:22. A week later and Chirchir took line honours in Zaandam at the Dam tot Damloop in the Netherlands. Clearly Chirchir is finding her best form at just the right time for the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN.
“Mary was excited to hear that Sheila (Chepkirui), Stella (Chesang – the defending champion) and now Evaline (Chirchir) is also coming. We have never seen such depth in a woman’s race in South Africa.” Kenya’s Mary Nyaruai Ekiru manager, Craig Fry.
Adding luster to an already deep women’s field is the 2019 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN runner up, Kenya’s Mary Nyaruai Ekiru. The young Kenyan had to give way to inform Tadu Nare of Ethiopia. Nare, a junior, has been giving South Africa’s top ladies a torrid time over 10km in 2019 and showed just why she is such an incredible talent by just missing out on the course record in Johannesburg this year. Nare is also confirmed for the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN on 13 October, providing Ekiru with the ideal opportunity to turn the tables on Nare. But Ekiru has bigger fish to fry and is looking to challenge for the podium in Durban.
“Mary is in great shape,” says manager Craig Fry. “You do not run 15:35.84 for 5000m at altitude and just miss out on representing Kenya at the World Championships in Doha over 5000m and not be a serious contender in any race that you line up in. Mary was excited to hear that Sheila (Chepkirui), Stella (Chesang – the defending champion) and now Evaline (Chirchir) is also coming. We have never seen such depth in a woman’s race in South Africa. This is exciting.”
A quick glance at the best times of the top women in the field will show just why Fry is exited. Sheila Chepkirui is the fastest women in 2019 with her 29:57 run in Prague on 7 September. It is also the second fastest time ever. Chirchir’s 30:43 is top 8 in the world in 2019. Ekiru’s 10km in Johannesburg was her debut over the distance. Nare boasts a best of 32:36 run in 2019. Add to the field South Africa’s Glenrose Xaba who became only the third South African woman to break 70minutes for the half marathon in August this year and in the process run 32:59 for 10km (she is looking for anything under 32minutes to a 32:20 in Durban), a resurgent Irvette van Zyl and in form Gerda Steyn and you have all the makings of what should go down as the fastest ever women’s 10km seen in South Africa.
Photo 1 Caption: Evaline Chirchir will be a top contender at the 2019 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN on Sunday, 13 October 2019. Photo: Global Sport Communication
With editing by gsport
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