Last year the UCT Runners Memorial 10km proved one of the highlights on the WP Road Running Calendar. Focusing on UCT’s running legend, Isavel Roche-Kelly, the race attracted a record field approaching 2000, carried top-level prize money and welcomed many of the previous winners of the Merrilyn Smith trophy, including record-holder Elana Meyer.

Energised by that success, UCT Athletics Club were determined to take the race to even great heights in 2025, but sadly events beyond the control of the University have taken a hand and we have been forced to cancel this year’s race.

The University Sports South Africa (USSA) Track and Field championships is one of the highlights of the year for university athletes around the country. This championship takes place annually in early April but unfortunately, due to the unavailability of the facilities at the Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria, the 2025 Championships, hosted by the Tshwane University of Technology, will now take place from 1-4 May 2025.

Being a small club, University of Cape Town simply lacks sufficient resources to resource these events over the same weekend. Rather than setting ourselves up for failure, we have reluctantly taken the decision to cancel this year’s race and to redouble our efforts to ensure the 2026 UCT 10km Memorial Race, which will pay tribute to another UCT legend, Lindsay Weight, will be the best ever.

We appreciate that many runners and officials prioritise this race on their calendar and apologise sincerely for letting you down this year.  Be assured we did not take this decision lightly and that we will be back next year.