GQEBERHA – Gerda Steyn describes Adriaan Wildschutt as ‘the real deal’ and predicts he will smash the SA record in the first of five Run Your City Series 10km races in Gqeberha on Sunday morning.
Both the men’s and women’s South African 10km road running records will be under serious threat at Sunday’s Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10km race, as Adriaan Wildschutt and Glenrose Xaba look to make history.
Wildschutt, South Africa’s 10,000m track record holder with an astonishing 26:50.64, will spearhead the men’s race. The 26-year-old from Ceres has already broken the 27-minute barrier three times over 10,000m, joining legends like Eliud Kipchoge, Haile Gebrselassie, and Mo Farah amongst others in that elite group.
Lining up with 5,000 other runners at 07:00 on Sunday morning at King’s Beach in Gqeberha, Wildschutt is targeting the national 10km road record of 27:35, set by Precious Mashele at the same race in 2023.
“I am here to run the record on Sunday and at the same time I want to win,” said Wildschutt.
“This is not just about breaking a record—it’s about pushing the limits of what we as South Africans believe is possible.”
The queen of South African ultra distance running Gerda Steyn, who won a record-breaking sixth Two Oceans 56km title last week on Saturday, 5 April, believes Wildschutt is primed for a record onslaught.
“Adriaan is the real deal,” says Steyn.
“His mindset, his discipline, his belief—it reminds me of what it takes to break through barriers. “More than that, he’s showing young athletes that world-class dreams are within reach,” adds Steyn.
Wildschutt, recruited by legendary South African distance athlete Zola Budd-Pieterse to the U.S. college system in 2018, now holds an MBA and a global racing pedigree.
Budd believes Wildschutt is a perfect example of courage, hard work and determination.
“He used the opportunities that came his way and with the right support he is an example for all of us of what can be accomplished, not only in running, but more importantly in academics and creating a future for himself through running. Running is a stepping stone to the rest of his life, not an end goal,” says Budd.
His competition includes brother Nadeel Wildschutt, Kenya’s Gideon Kipngetich, and South Africans Melikhaya Frans, Kabelo Mulaudzi, Chris Mhlanga, and Namakoe Nkasi.
Former SA 5000m national record holder Shadrack Hoff, one of the greats of South African middle- and long-distance running, has his sights set on breaking the 31:03 SA Masters 10km record set by Johannes Kekana at the Absa Run your City Durban 10k in 2022.
In the women’s race, Glenrose Xaba will attempt to lower her own SA 10km record of 31:12, set in Durban last year.
“My aim is to try to run 30 minutes,” said Xaba, who also holds the national marathon record after her 2:22:22 debut at the Cape Town Marathon.
Xaba will face strong competition from Kenyan Mercy Kibet Kibor, fresh off her win at the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon last week. Kibor, who has solid record as a track athlete also predicted running a time of 30 minutes.
With record-breaking intentions on both sides, Sunday’s race promises fireworks in the streets of Gqeberha.
