Tayla Kavanagh and Glenrose Xaba will have to wait to renew their budding rivalry.

• Sunday’s Absa Run Your City 10K race in Cape Town has been cancelled due to severe weather warnings for the weekend.
• Organisers said strong winds, heavy rain and flooding risks made it unsafe to hold the race.
• The anticipated showdown between Glenrose Xaba and Tayla Kavanagh will have to wait as runners can decide on a full refund or free entry to next year’s event.
• For more, visit News24’s athletics section.

The Absa ‘Run Your City’ 10k race, which was set to take place on Sunday in Cape Town, has been cancelled due to “severe adverse weather conditions”.

“After consulting with the City of Cape Town authorities, local authorities, and the appointed safety officials, [we] have made the difficult decision to cancel the event scheduled to take place on Sunday, 10 May,” read the statement by the race’s staging partner, Stillwater Sports.

READ | Giving it a shot: How going into the ring opened up blindside flanker Aiden Smith’s world

The South African Weather Services released an Orange level five warning, which indicates a high likelihood of disruptive weather causing significant impacts, such as heavy rain potentially leading to flooding, damaging winds (100-120km/h), or heavy snowfall set for the weekend.

“Following close on the heels of a prolonged period of adverse weather conditions associated with a cut-off low weather system, a strong cold front is expected to make landfall over the Western Cape on Sunday afternoon before progressing eastwards along the southern parts of the country.”

The race was highly anticipated, largely for the renewal of a budding rivalry between South Africa’s elite runners Glenrose Xaba and Tayla Kavanagh.

Kavanagh pipped Xaba to the line at March’s Spar Grand Prix 10km race in Cape Town in a shock result, finishing five seconds faster in 31:33.

Xaba led for most of the race before Kavanagh outkicked her in the final 200 metres.

Following the 10k race cancellation, the duo will have to wait to continue their duel.

“Our Operations Team has been closely monitoring the weather predictions and engaging daily with the City of Cape Town authorities, local authorities, and the appointed safety officials, in the lead-up to race weekend,” said Dezroy Poole, Race Director for the Absa Run Your City Series.

“This decision was not taken lightly, especially considering the anticipation surrounding the event and the commitment shown by our runners, sponsors and partners.

“However, under the expected conditions, we could not guarantee a safe and enjoyable race experience for all involved.”

As a “gesture of goodwill”, race organisers have offered prospective participants the option between a full refund or a free entry to next year’s edition of the event.