After a standout 2025 season in which he broke four national records, South African distance runner Adriaan Wildschutt has set his sights even higher for 2026. The US-based Olympian will return to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Gqeberha 10K on Sunday, 1 March, aiming to become the first athlete to run a sub-27-minute 10km on African soil.
“It would mean a lot to run sub-27:00 on SA soil. It would probably be one of my very highest achievements. It would certainly mean the world to me,” says the 27-year-old, who set a South African record of 27:28 on his Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series debut in Gqeberha last April. That record was later eclipsed by Maxime Chaumeton, who ran 26:55 in Romania.
Wildschutt’s record-breaking run in Nelson Mandela Bay last year was a solo effort: he took the lead just after 3km and held it to the finish, breaking the SA 10km record as his family watched from his hometown of Ceres in the Western Cape. However, the sub-27-minute barrier will require strong competition, pacemakers, and ideal conditions.
“I want to emphasise how tall an order that is on this course, and I’d need competition. It wasn’t ideal running alone for most of the race last year. To even come close to sub-27, I need perfect weather, competitors who can push me all the way, and pacers who can maintain the pace beyond 5km,” he explains. Wildschutt also set a new SA Half Marathon record of 59:13 at the Valencia Half Marathon in October and recently finished 13th at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida.
Beyond personal goals, Wildschutt draws motivation from inspiring local runners and the support he receives on home soil. He credits the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series for providing a platform for South African and African athletes to compete at a world-class level.
“It’s always such a pleasure and honour to run in South Africa. I understand that there are quite a few athletes I indirectly influence, and it’s great talking to them about running and life. The Series has been a huge help in providing opportunities to run fast and compete against high-quality athletes. The incentives motivate us to prepare well, which enhances the competition. They’ve done a great job over the last few years and are still rising,” he says.
Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Founder of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, says:
“We are excited to welcome Adriaan back to the Gqeberha 10K. His consistency, professionalism, and record-breaking performances have been exceptional, and he continues to raise the bar for South African distance running. We want SA’s elite athletes to keep breaking records, pushing boundaries, and setting new benchmarks on home soil.”
2026 Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Dates
- Gqeberha 10K – Sunday 1 March 2026 | Start: 07:00 | Beach Road, Humewood
- Entry Fee: Licensed R255 | Temporary License R30
- Entries Open: Thursday 11 December 2025
- Entries Close: Monday 23 February 2026 or once capacity is reached
- Cape Town 10K – Sunday 10 May 2026
- Durban 10K – Sunday 12 July 2026
- Tshwane 10K – Sunday 23 August 2026
- Joburg 10K – Thursday 24 September 2026
Follow & connect:
Facebook: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Instagram: @Gqeberha10k / @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Tshwane10k / @Joburg10k
Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
WhatsApp Line: 072 042 7613
Website: www.runyourcityseries.com
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