February 15, 2025

WATCH | Elroy Gelant on his polished performance at the Gqeberha RYC 10K

Elroy Gelant took another step closer to qualifying for his third Olympic Games by producing a polished performance clocking 28:17 at the Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10km race on Sunday.

 

The 37-year-old from Pacaltsdorp was the first South African across the finish line in 28 minutes and 17 seconds. Kenya’s Vincent Kibet Langat claimed top honors with a winning time of 28:01. SA 10km national record holder Precious Mashele (28:19) claimed the third position as he crossed the finish line two seconds behind his countryman.

Vincent Kibet Langat by Tobias Ginsberg

Gelant said afterwards he was happy with his performance considering the challenging weather conditions.

“When I woke up this morning and I heard the wind blowing, I knew from the start that it was going to be a tactical race. The race was a positive start as a season opener and gives me a lot of confidence going into Two Oceans next week. I told myself I wanted to get confidence out of this race and that is exactly what I got,” Gelant said after the race.

“In the first two kilometers it was windy and we were just hiding behind each other. I made a move at about 2.5km up the small slope because I was still feeling good and I knew that at 4km I needed to be in front.

“The last two kilometers the Kenyan and Precious Mashele actually left me.  I could feel that I was still running fluently and I was still going at a decent pace.  As we approached the finish I could see Precious struggling a little bit. I shifted into that track mentality of coming with a kick in the last 150 meters and just managed to sneak past him.

Elroy Gelant and Precious Mashele by Tobias Ginsberg

Gelant admitted that he is  in much better shape than he was last year. 

“In Durban I ended up in 25th position. Sitting there after the finish I was not happy with myself. I told myself, Elroy, this is not good enough. I had to change a few things and I can now see the fruits of that hard work. I am therefore really happy with the podium finish, especially looking at where I was last year.

Gelant says it being  an Olympic year has switched his mindset and has put him on another level. 

“My main priority is to qualify for the Olympic Games. My performance today was really positive, but it’s still average compared to what I need to run at the Olympics.

“I need to push myself to around 27:10 to be competitive at the Olympics. I am still in a high mileage stage and obviously if I taper a bit the times will get faster.

“I will go for it at the SA Marathon Championships at the end of April in Durban. I just want to secure my spot.  The other guys (contenders for Olympic spots) are  running today. I know Desmond Mokgobo, Melikhaya Frans and Colin Mulaudzi are also running in Italy. I will see what the results are and will go all out at the SA marathon Champs to qualify for the Olympics.

For race winner Kibet Langat, it was his first time running in South Africa He said he found the conditions particularly tough.

“The wind was very strong and I had to work hard for my victory. The race was very well organised. I will definitely come back to run in the rest of the Absa series and also encourage more Kenyans to come run here. My goal is to qualify for the Olympics in the 10 000m 

In the womens’ race, pre-race favourite, Diana Chepkorir, lived up to expectations by winning her first race ever in South Africa. The 22-year-old Kenyan finished in a blistering 31:15.

She arrived in the ‘The Friendly City’ in the shape of her life after setting a jaw-dropping 29:56 lifetime best at the FACSA Castellón 10K in February.

Chepkorir’s compatriot Nancy Sang (31:39) was second with Ethiopian Selam Gebre (31:42) third.

Diana Chepkorir by Tobias Ginsberg

“I am happy with the victory as well as my time. I did not expect to run sub-30 today  because  the conditions were tough. It  was cold and windy. However, it was great to do my first race in South Africa,” said Chepkorir.

TOP 10 RESULTS: 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K

Date: Sunday 07 April 2024
Start and Finish: Kings Beach Precinct

TOP 10 MEN
1 Vincent Kibet Langat 28:01, 2 Elroy Gelant 28:17, 3 Precious Mashele 28:19, 4 Thabang Mosiako 28:30, 5 Mathews Leeto 28:38, 6 Bongelani Mkhwanazi 28:44, 7 Maxon Kipngetich 28:45, 8 Chris Mhlangu 28:53, 9 Abere Mamo Haile 28:54, 10 Neil Van Der Merwe 28:55

TOP 10 WOMEN

1 Diana Chepkorir 31:15, 2 Nancy Sang 31:39, 3 Selam Fente Gebre 31:42, 4 Meselu Berhe Kahsay 31:51, 5 Blandina Makatisi 32:05, 6 Glenrose Xaba 33:04, 7 Fridah Ndinda Mweu 33:18, 8 Cacisile Sosibo 33:32, 9 Diniya Kedir Abaraya 33:57, 10 Lebogang Phalula 35:22

 

 

 

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