Elroy Gelant has confirmed that he will use the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 7 July as part of his preparations for the Olympic Games in Paris in August.
Fresh from winning his second national title in four weeks – the SA Half Marathon Championships in Gqeberha over the weekend, Gelant qualified for the Olympics according to World Rankings.
Elroy Gelant Photo: Mark Sampson
Lining up on a course that produced the SA All-Comers Record of 27:16 set by Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei in 2018, Gelant knows that given his recent mercurial form, all eyes will be on him.
“I understand the expectations at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K and I am prepared for the challenge,” confirms Gelant.
The Boxer Athletics Club top runner has been in the shape of his life in 2024 setting personal bests over the marathon (2:08:56) and 10km (27:54), while claiming a silver medal in the 5000m at the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships.
“It’s a testament to our hard work and dedication as a team. I’m referring to my coach, training mates and support structures,” said the University of the North-West lecturer who is coached by Jean Verster.
His victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon on Saturday 1 June was his sixth podium finish in as many starts which saw him feature in two marathons, a 21km race, two Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series 10km races and a 5000m race – all run during the last four months.
“My recovery is crucial to my success. I focus on proper rest, nutrition, and active recovery techniques to bounce back quickly from hard racing.
“It’s all about finding the right balance between pushing my limits and allowing my body to recover effectively,” explained the 37-year-old.
After claiming a hard-fought second place behind Kenya’s Vincent Langat in what was his first sub-28-minute 10km clocking at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K (hosted on Sunday 12 May 2024), the two-time Olympian has set his sights on running even faster in Durban.
“My approach will be to focus on my abilities and stay confident in my preparations. It will be great to better my 27.54 personal best that I ran in Cape Town as the weather conditions in Cape Town were not ideal for running fast times; hopefully, we will be blessed with better running conditions in Durban,” concludes Gelant.
“We are thrilled to have Elroy Gelant join the lineup for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday, 7 July,” says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and Series Founder.
“Elroy is in the shape of his life, showcasing his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport. Not only is he an outstanding athlete, but also a fantastic ambassador for road running. It’s an honor to have him toe the line in Durban, and we look forward to witnessing yet another stellar performance in this year’s race.”
