Defending champion draws on her breakthrough victory and deep connection with the series as she returns to Johannesburg carrying both confidence and caution
Seen Here: Although she admits that 2026 has not been her best season, defending champion Karabo Mailula cannot help but feel hopeful as she recalls the biggest 10km victory of her career, a moment she hopes to relive when she defends her title at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Seen here: Karabo Mailula in action at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K in 2025. Photo Credit: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG — Defending champion Karabo Mailula will return to the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on Heritage Day with one powerful advantage: she knows exactly what it feels like to win it.
The 24-year-old Boxer Athletics Club star admits that 2026 has not unfolded as she had hoped, while a troublesome knee injury continues to limit her preparation. But the memory of last year’s breakthrough victory in Johannesburg has given her renewed belief ahead of Thursday’s race.
Mailula produced the biggest 10km victory of her career in 2025, clocking 33:44 to beat Kenya’s Florence Nyaingiri and claim the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K title.
The experience left an impression far beyond the finishing line.
“Winning the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K meant a lot,” Mailula recalls. “I was so popular and received congratulations from so many people — some of whom I didn’t even know. I felt like a celebrity. I really enjoyed the race.”
Now, she returns to the M1 and M2 highways hoping to recreate that special feeling, although she knows the road to another victory will be considerably more demanding.
Fitness remains a concern
Mailula arrives in Johannesburg with a recent podium finish behind her, having run 33:01 for third place at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km on 30 August.
The performance was encouraging, but the South African remains realistic about where she stands physically.
Her primary objective in Durban was simply to complete the race and break 33:10 — a target she achieved.
“My aim here [at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km] was just to finish the race and run under 33:10, so I achieved my goal,” she says.
“But I’m honestly not sure about my fitness level at the moment. I’ve been resting because of my knee injury. I’m still in the process of recovery, so I’m not perfect.”
That uncertainty could make the title defence particularly challenging, especially on a Joburg route known for its demanding hills and fast, competitive field.
But Mailula believes she can draw strength from another part of her preparation — her mindset.
A series that has shaped her career
Mailula’s relationship with the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series stretches back several years and mirrors her development as an elite road runner.
Her breakthrough came in 2023, when she finished eighth at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K.
It was her first top-10 finish in a major race and gave her the confidence to believe that she could compete consistently against some of the strongest runners on the circuit.
“I remember finishing in eighth position at the 2023 Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K, which was the first time I managed to place in the top ten in a big race,” she says.
“Since then, I’ve just stuck there to make sure I’m always in the top ten, even if I’m not on the podium.”
That consistency eventually translated into her biggest moment — victory in Joburg in 2025.
Now, with the defending champion’s bib waiting for her, Mailula hopes those positive memories can help compensate for the physical uncertainty surrounding her preparation.
“I really enjoy the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series,” she says. “It’s an inspiring event and everyone wants to be there — especially in Joburg, where there is a lot of support.”
Defending champion adds another layer to Joburg showdown
Stillwater Sports Managing Director and Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series Founder Michael Meyer believes Mailula’s return adds another compelling storyline to an already highly anticipated Johannesburg race.
“Karabo has built a strong connection with the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series, and her victory in Joburg last year was a particularly special moment in her journey,” says Meyer.
“To have the defending champion back on the start line on Heritage Day adds another exciting dimension to what promises to be a highly competitive race.”
Meyer believes Mailula’s experience of winning in Johannesburg could prove valuable when she lines up again.
“Karabo knows what it takes to win in Joburg, and we’re looking forward to seeing her take on the challenge of defending her title in front of the incredible Joburg crowd.”
Joburg brings the series home
The Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K is the fifth event on the 2026 series calendar, following races in Gqeberha, Durban and Tshwane.
Adriaan Wildschutt won the men’s race in Gqeberha in 27:47, while Brenda Jepchirchir took the women’s title in 30:15.
The Cape Town leg scheduled for 10 May was cancelled because of severe weather conditions.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei dominated the Durban race in 27:19, with Kenya’s Doreen Cherop winning the women’s race in 30:43. Cherop then claimed another victory in Tshwane, clocking 31:35, while Kenya’s Salem Kibet won the men’s race in 28:45.
The Johannesburg race is already sold out, underlining the enormous appetite for the series and the special atmosphere that awaits Mailula on Heritage Day.
The race starts at 08:00 from Lilian Ngoyi Street, with runners finishing at Rahima Moosa Street.
More than a title defence
For Mailula, Thursday’s race is about more than protecting her crown.
It is another opportunity to measure her progress, test her recovery and reconnect with the race that delivered one of the defining moments of her young career.
A fully fit Mailula would naturally enter the conversation among the contenders. But with her knee still recovering, the defending champion knows she may need to rely on experience, composure and the emotional energy of the Joburg crowd.
And that could make her title defence one of the most intriguing stories of the race.
She has already conquered Joburg once.
Now, she returns with the memories of that victory fresh in her mind — and the opportunity to prove that champions can find a way forward even when circumstances are far from perfect.
