Xaba Claims Gold at Inaugural FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN

Taking the Maputo City Day celebrations to new heights on Sunday, 10 November 2019, the much anticipated FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN saw South African Glenrose Xaba claim gold in the open women’s race with a notable time of 33:10.

IAAF Silver Label athlete, Glenrose Xaba claimed her second FNB Run Your City Series title on the day, her first being at the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN in 2017.

According to Xaba she started the race with a group of men. “After the first kilometer I started to move alone until the finish. I am excited to win one of the FNB races again. Lately I’ve been finishing Top 5, so I am happy to win today. The route is challenging, with a few hills. I enjoyed crossing the Maputo-Katembe bridge the most. We were told that it’s only cars that get to cross the bridge. So, I am very excited to be the first lady to run over the bridge. I would definitely like to come back next year to defend my title.”

Fortunate Chidzivo came in second, while Rutendo Nyahora finished third.

The fourth and final event in the 2019 FNB Run Your City Series, the FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN is the first event to cross the newly built Maputo-Katembe bridge. As with its sister events in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, the 10km flat route is designed to take participants along the historic and iconic routes around each city, thereby adding a touristic element to it and making it more than a race, but also an economic opportunity for every community it passes through. Starting at the Katembe Municipal Building, participants were granted the opportunity to enjoy the landscape of Maputo city, passing by the iconic Tunduru Botanical Gardens, before finishing at Independence Square.

“The FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN was everything that we envisioned and more,” says Paulo Pereira, Deputy CEO of FNB. “Offering customers, families and friends a fun-filled journey through our city was an absolute honour and privilege. We are proud to be the first event in history to cross the Maputo–Katembe bridge on foot and that on a very special day, Maputo City Day. It’s an experience that will remain in the memory banks for years to come. We are excited to build on the experience and cannot wait to welcome everyone back in 2020 for an even bigger celebration.”

Photo 1 Caption: Glenrose Xaba claims gold at the inaugural FNB Maputo 10K CITYRUN. Photo: Tobias Ginsberg

With editing by gsport