'We are excited to elevate the race experience' - Absa renews RUN YOUR CITY Series sponsorship for another 4 years
At a time when many sponsors were stepping away from mass participation sports during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Absa took a bold step forward and signed on as the Title Sponsor of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. This partnership which began in 2021, has become one of South Africa's premier 10km road running as it expanded from three to five cities. The collaboration attracted top-tier elite athletes and lifestyle runners alike, uniting communities across the country's major metros.
That Absa has decided to renew it's commitment to the RUN YOUR CITY SERIES as headline sponsor for a further four years, is a mark of what the partnership has been able to achieve during the last three years. Absa's signing as Title Sponsor of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES in 2021 marked the beginning of exciting innovations and transformative changes for the series, says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder.
"We were immediately impressed by Absa's energy and commitment. But we couldn’t have imagined just how impactful this partnership would be. The last few years have far exceeded our expectations. Absa's goals align perfectly with ours: to focus on innovation, inspiration, and fun, making this the most accessible and enjoyable mass-participation road running event in Africa."
"The Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES is a transformative movement revitalizing South Africa’s inner cities and celebrating the unique stories of every participant, from seasoned runners to casual joggers. This partnership reflects our commitment to uplifting communities and reigniting pride in our urban landscapes, while also making a tangible social impact through the R1 Campaign. In just two years, we've raised nearly R5 million to build vegetable gardens in schools, fostering sustainable food security and community empowerment. As we embark on the next chapter, we are excited to elevate the race experience and continue amplifying the voices of South Africans, celebrating unity, endurance, and purpose for another four years," says Sydney Mbhele, Group Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer at Absa.
In addition to attracting an impressive combined total of 45 589 runners over the five 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series races, the series also gave away five Chery Tiggo 4 Pro LiT vehicles, valued at over R279,000 each (a combined value of more than R1.3 million), while a total of R182,340 was raised for the Absa RUYOUR CITY SERIES charity partner, the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). But perhaps most impressive were the results on the road.
In 2024, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K delivered its most outstanding performances to date, with Kenya's Christine Nalimo Njoki marking her debut on South African soil by setting the fastest 10km time ever run by a woman on the African continent, in an impressive time of 30:37. Glenrose Xaba, finishing fourth overall and as the first South African, broke Elana Meyer's long-standing South African 10km record (of 31:13 set in 2001) with her time of 31:12. Meanwhile, Lesotho’s Neheng Khatala set a new Lesotho 10km women’s record with a time of 32:01.
"In addition to record-breaking participation and sell-out fields, the ongoing rise in elite performances—both local and international—within the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES highlights the consistent improvement in competition standards year after year. Our vision has always been to provide South African elites with the opportunity to compete against the world’s best athletes in world-class events on home soil. The results speak for themselves. We are thrilled that Absa has renewed their partnership, and we look forward to continuing this journey, establishing the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES as the most accessible and exciting mass-participation 10km road running series in Africa."
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