Meyer treats elite athletes like the superstars they are
It is how it must be. These, after all, are the men and women who make the races what they are – the broadcasters and the sponsors partner with the races because of them. They are the draw cards, and Meyer understands the importance of taking care of them.
Unlike those renowned ultra races, which expect the elites to pay for entry fees and find their way to the events and accommodate themselves, Meyer takes care of the athletes in ways that leave them needing only to worry about their performances on race day.
Michael Meyer – a former runner and the Managing Director of Stillwater Sports – is quietly revolutionising running in the country through the 10km Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series which he founded.
But in the much shorter distance, a man with a passion for running is giving elites the kind of treatment they are worthy of.
Elite runners who compete in the renowned Comrades, Two Oceans as well as the Om Die Dam, Loskop and Mangosuthu ultra marathons are treated no differently from the social runners – save for the seeding perhaps. It is the same in most of the renowned standard marathons.
In a country where ultra running is supposedly king, isn't it ironic that it is in the much shorter distances where the elite athletes are treated with respect and receive the recognition they duly deserve?
Athletes that are well taken care of can only want to perform at their optimum best.
And there too, there are huge incentives that help ensure they run fantastic times.
The RUN YOUR CITY SERIES boasts an unprecedented 'SA Athlete Prize Incentive Programme', which offers bonuses for exceptional performances. In the men's category, bonuses will start for times faster than 28 minutes, with a substantial R200,000 bonus offered to an athlete breaking the 27-minute barrier.
For the women, bonuses begin for times faster than 32:08 minutes, with an impressive R200,000 incentive for breaking the 30:23 mark. To further raise the stakes, a bonus of R50 000.00 will be awarded to the South African athlete who breaks the SA 10km record (at the time of the race).
Glenrose Xaba explained just why the incentives are strong motivators.
'The incentives are very important to me because they're directly linked to performance times, because the better my time, the better my chances of competing internationally. said Xaba.
"These incentives motivate me to stay at the top because the rewards are tangible. Breaking my own record would be a dream come true — I'd be the happiest woman alive."
Here's what Meyer says about the programme.
'While our focus will always be on ensuring every runner — from first to last — enjoys the same high-quality experience, we also recognise the importance of attracting the world's best athletes and nurturing local talent. To achieve that, we've built a comprehensive and meaningful Elite Athlete Programme," said Meyer.
"Although the total prize money for the 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES is just over R1.6 million, we're investing over R4.5 million annually into the overall elite programme. That includes supporting top-tier athletes from around the world — who have many racing options — by offering them a world-class racing experience here in South Africa.
"It also means ensuring a larger group of South African elites can participate, flying them in, accommodating them, and in the case of top performers, offering appearance fees. Very few events in South Africa offer a true 'Elite Athlete Programme' like this, and it's a key area where we allocate significant resources.
'When a record is broken at one of our races, it doesn't just make local headlines — it attracts global attention. That's what we're aiming for: to marry the excellence of African athletes with the excellence of our cities. That remains our long-term vision, while continuing to invest in development and the broader running community.'
The next race in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES is the Durban10km which takes place next Sunday. And with the legendary Stephen Mokoka out to break the world Masters record for runners aged between 40 and 49, Stillwater Sports have moved to spur the multiple Olympian on.
'When Stephen Mokoka shared his goal of breaking the record with us, we knew we wanted to support him in a meaningful way,' Meyer said.
'Stephen has been a strong supporter of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES since its inaugural event in 2015. The R100,000 incentive is our way of showing appreciation, while recognising both his ambition and his remarkable contribution to South African road running.
"It would be an honour to celebrate such a monumental achievement with Stephen right here in Durban at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K.'
Meyer has invited Comrades Marathon champion Tete Dijana to the race and has taken care of his basic needs better than the world famous ultra ever would.
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IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Meyer treats elite athletes like the superstars they are
And so it is that the majority of the elites who participate in the RUN YOUR CITY SERIES do so per invitation. With the funding for the race – thanks to sponsors Absa and other partners, Meyer provides transport and accommodation for the athletes at all the five events – Gqeberha, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg – as well as paying them appearance fees. It is how it must be. These, after all, are the men and women who make the races what they are – the broadcasters and the sponsors partner with the races because of them. They are the draw cards, and Meyer understands the importance of taking care of them. Unlike those renowned ultra races, which expect the elites to pay for entry fees and find their way to the events and accommodate themselves, Meyer takes care of the athletes in ways that leave them needing only to worry about their performances on race day. Michael Meyer – a former runner and the Managing Director of Stillwater Sports – is quietly revolutionising running in the country through the 10km Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series which he founded. But in the much shorter distance, a man with a passion for running is giving elites the kind of treatment they are worthy of. Elite runners who compete in the renowned Comrades, Two Oceans as well as the Om Die Dam, Loskop and Mangosuthu ultra marathons are treated no differently from the social runners – save for the seeding perhaps. It is the same in most of the renowned standard marathons. In a country where ultra running is supposedly king, isn't it ironic that it is in the much shorter distances where the elite athletes are treated with respect and receive the recognition they duly deserve? Athletes that are well taken care of can only want to perform at their optimum best. And there too, there are huge incentives that help ensure they run fantastic times. The RUN YOUR CITY SERIES boasts an unprecedented 'SA Athlete Prize Incentive Programme', which offers bonuses for exceptional performances. In the men's category, bonuses will start for times faster than 28 minutes, with a substantial R200,000 bonus offered to an athlete breaking the 27-minute barrier. For the women, bonuses begin for times faster than 32:08 minutes, with an impressive R200,000 incentive for breaking the 30:23 mark. To further raise the stakes, a bonus of R50 000.00 will be awarded to the South African athlete who breaks the SA 10km record (at the time of the race). Glenrose Xaba explained just why the incentives are strong motivators. 'The incentives are very important to me because they're directly linked to performance times, because the better my time, the better my chances of competing internationally. said Xaba. "These incentives motivate me to stay at the top because the rewards are tangible. Breaking my own record would be a dream come true — I'd be the happiest woman alive." Here's what Meyer says about the programme. 'While our focus will always be on ensuring every runner — from first to last — enjoys the same high-quality experience, we also recognise the importance of attracting the world's best athletes and nurturing local talent. To achieve that, we've built a comprehensive and meaningful Elite Athlete Programme," said Meyer. "Although the total prize money for the 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES is just over R1.6 million, we're investing over R4.5 million annually into the overall elite programme. That includes supporting top-tier athletes from around the world — who have many racing options — by offering them a world-class racing experience here in South Africa. "It also means ensuring a larger group of South African elites can participate, flying them in, accommodating them, and in the case of top performers, offering appearance fees. Very few events in South Africa offer a true 'Elite Athlete Programme' like this, and it's a key area where we allocate significant resources. 'When a record is broken at one of our races, it doesn't just make local headlines — it attracts global attention. That's what we're aiming for: to marry the excellence of African athletes with the excellence of our cities. That remains our long-term vision, while continuing to invest in development and the broader running community.' The next race in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES is the Durban10km which takes place next Sunday. And with the legendary Stephen Mokoka out to break the world Masters record for runners aged between 40 and 49, Stillwater Sports have moved to spur the multiple Olympian on. 'When Stephen Mokoka shared his goal of breaking the record with us, we knew we wanted to support him in a meaningful way,' Meyer said. 'Stephen has been a strong supporter of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES since its inaugural event in 2015. The R100,000 incentive is our way of showing appreciation, while recognising both his ambition and his remarkable contribution to South African road running. "It would be an honour to celebrate such a monumental achievement with Stephen right here in Durban at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K.' Meyer has invited Comrades Marathon champion Tete Dijana to the race and has taken care of his basic needs better than the world famous ultra ever would.

IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Liverpool FC's strategic absence from the FIFA Club World Cup sets the stage for Arne Slot's second season
Arne Slot, Liverpool FC Manager, prepares for the upcoming season after winning the Premier League Title in his first season. Image: AFP As the footballing world currently watches the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, Liverpool FC, one of Europe's most decorated clubs, finds its absence from this year's competition beneficial as they prepare for the upcoming 2025/2026 Premier League season. Having clinched the Premier League title in April, Arne Slot's debut season, and with the lure of a new trophy in the cabinet, the club saw an increase in funding from the significant prize money that came with winning the Premier League, reportedly up to £181.5 million (around R2,784,000,000) according to Premier League representatives and NBC Sports. The primary reason for Liverpool's absence from the newly expanded 32-team Club World Cup, as reported by This Is Anfield, was FIFA's rule limiting participation to two clubs per country. While not by choice because of FIFA's qualification criteria for the Club World Cup, this period allows for a well-deserved break for the Premier League Champions before the 25/26 season begins. Speaking to Sky Sports, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp expressed his concerns about the Club World Cup being one of "the worst idea ever implemented in football" because of its increased strain on the players after their respective seasons. Already, players had mentioned how the temperature in the United States had taken a significant toll on their performance throughout the competition, with the intense heat and humidity proving a challenging factor. Although Klopp has left the club, his concerns about player welfare still resonated deeply within the sport, highlighting the current debate around the demanding schedule placed on elite football players. Arne Slot himself, speaking earlier in June, highlighted the potential for burnout in having to compete for another month after the official league had concluded. Slot contests this as he doesn't think it is "healthy for players to have maybe only one week off," reported. Liverpool, with a well-deserved break, can now focus on having a more comprehensive pre-season, ensuring Slot's squad is physically and mentally refreshed for what promises to be another demanding campaign. Instead of battling it out in the Club World Cup, Liverpool's pre-season schedule takes them to Asia with matches against AC Milan in Hong Kong and Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan, before returning to Anfield for a friendly game against Athletic City. Slot's focus for Liverpool's pre-season is on refining the squad. With the summer transfer window very much underway, Slot's team has seen some significant ins and outs, signifying a clear strategic direction from the new management team, Liverpool FC representatives confirmed. Meanwhile, Manchester City's pre-season and round of 16 exit in the Club World Cup draws concerns for City's manager, Pep Guardiola. Guardiola's concerns express how the demanding schedule of the Club World Cup could "destroy" City's 2025-2026 campaign. According to Sky Sports and Guardiola and other top coaches emphasize the delicate balance clubs must maintain between competition, player well-being, and future season planning. Slot's Vision: Shaping the Future With the transfer window open, Liverpool has seen significant activity, marked by both high-profile departures and strategic new signings under Slot's vision. Florian Wirtz's signing represents a clear statement of intent, signalling the club's willingness to invest heavily in elite, game-changing talent. The £116 million deal (R2,772,903,440,00) for Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen makes him the most expensive midfield player in Premier League history, according to Sky Sports and For Liverpool fans, Wirtz's arrival had already sparked enormous excitement, an excitement that dates back to 2007 when Liverpool signed Fernando Torres from Atlético Madrid. As Slot recently stated in a club interview: "Florian is a player we've admired for a long time. His ability to unlock defences and dictate play is exceptional. He will bring an additional dimension to our attack, and we are incredibly excited to see him develop further here." Florian Wirtz signs for Liverpool, making him the most expensive signing in Premier League History at a record-breaking £116m Image: AFP Last week, in a club statement released, Liverpool FC announced the signing of left-back Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth for £40 million, roughly around (R700,572,000,00). For Slot's squad, Kerkez is a more dynamic and younger talent, with rumours of Andy Robertson expected to depart from the club this coming season, according to various transfer speculation. Milos Kerkez, Liverpool's latest signing, joins from Bournemouth FC for £40m. Image: AFP The most impactful exit this season has been Trent Alexander-Arnold, who's moved to Real Madrid for £8 million (R192,202,720) as announced by Real Madrid club president Florentino Pérez. Jeremie Frimpong, also from Bayer Leverkusen, directly replaces Alexander-Arnold. AP News reported that the talented right-back's transfer to Liverpool cost £30 million (R525,412,449). In the goalkeeping department, Caoimhín Kelleher departed and joined Brentford for £18 million (around R430.7 million), as reported by Sky Sports. His replacement will be Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia for £29 million (approximately R693.9 million), Sky Sports confirmed. Jeremie Frimpong replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has moved to Real Madrid for £8m. Image: AFP


The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Vryheid Athletic Club celebrates Comrades Marathon heroes
The spirit of endurance and determination was alive and well during the Comrades Marathon weekend, when several runners from Vryheid Athletic Club (VAC) proudly represented their town. The ultra-marathon, stretching approximately 87km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, tested the physical and mental limits of runners from across the country, and Vryheid's local athletes did not disappoint. Among those who completed the 'Ultimate Human Race' were: Siyanda Mncube – 10:42:42 (bronze medal); Jaco Booysen – 11:56:40 (Vic Clapham medal); Simphiwe Buthelezi – 09:58:52 (Robert Mtshali medal); Paula Smal – 10:55:09 (bronze medal and received her green number); Ntokozo P Mbatha – 10:28:10 (bronze medal); Carla Muller – 11:02:38 (Vic Clapham medal); Amanda Vergottini – 11:18:05 (Vic Clapham medal); Jabulani Ndwandwe – 11:56:32 (Vic Clapham medal); Hlobisile Madida – 10:14:57 (bronze medal); Vlam de Beer – 09:51:34 (Robert Mtshali medal); Andrea de Beer – 09:51:33 (Robert Mtshali medal); Tholiwe Hlope – 12:01:07 (UOF); Michelle Baeta – 11:40:32 (Vic Clapham medal); PJ du Toit – 10:24:16 (bronze medal); Samantha Johannes – 11:02:38 (Vic Clapham medal); Ruzelle Grobbelaar – 11:39:47 (Vic Clapham medal); Duvan Grobbelaar – 11:56:33 (Vic Clapham medal). Some were first-timers, while others added another medal to their collection. But the Vryheid Athletic Club captain Amanda Vergottini says that they all shared the sense of camaraderie and resilience it takes to conquer Comrades. To help the community understand just how impressive these achievements are, here's a breakdown of the Comrades Marathon medal system: Gold – top 10 finishers; Wally Hayward – Sub-six hours (not in top 10) for top veteran amateurs; Silver – 6:00:01 to 7:29:59 (very strong club level performance); Bill Rowan – 7:30:00 to 8:59:59 (solid sub-nine hour effort); Bronze – 9:00:00 to 10:59:59 (most common medal); Vic Clapham – 11:00:00 to 12:00:00 (official finish before cut-off). The club has become a beacon for local runners of all levels, from beginners to seasoned athletes. With their latest achievements, these Comrades finishers are not only inspiring other members but are also encouraging more locals to put on their tekkies and get moving. You made Vryheid proud! ALSO READ: Bongani sets the pace at Comrades Marathon The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!