After marathon success, Gelant set sights on maiden sub 28 at Absa GQEBERHA 10K

After producing a lifetime best 2:08:56 at the Sevilla Marathon last month to come within 46 seconds of automatic qualification for what would be a third consecutive Olympic appearance, Elroy Gelant has now set his sights on running a maiden sub-28-minute clocking at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on Sunday 7 April 2024.

"I’m really looking forward to this year,” admits Gelant. “I started off my season with a marathon PB. That laid a foundation for me going forward in 2024 because it showed me that I can achieve what I put my mind to. My goal for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K will be to run a sub-28. I’m looking forward to it. All of my training paces are set for a sub-28. It will depend on the body and how it responds on the day, but I would really love to run a PB and better my time of 28:04," said Gelant.

It is a bold target for a man who at 37 years old is entering the twilight of his career. But after a fabulous 2023 season that saw him set new personal bests over 10km at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10k and the half marathon (1:00:56) at the World Road Running Championships, Gelant is feeling confident, particularly with the confirmation that several 27-minute performers such as Precious Mashele, Thabang Mosiako, and Kabelo Mulaudzi will run the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K.

"My performance over the last six months is just a blessing,” states Gelant. “To have run three PB’s, especially at this age is a blessing. I think we have a few phenomenal athletes that can pull me to that sub-28. It’s going to be a fantastic race with an adapted route, so we are looking forward to some fast times," he shared.

One of those phenomenal athletes to whom Gelant alludes is Kenya’s Maxon Kipngetich. The 10 000m athlete leads the East African charge in his first official road race. After his compatriot Daniel Ebenyo won last year’s inaugural race in 27:21, Kipngetich says he would love to follow in the fast footsteps of his more illustrious countryman.

"It is a good race," says Kipngetich. "I’ve seen people like Ebenyo run and it opened their careers. I want the same. I want to expand my career to run from 5km to 21km in the near future. I want to expand my range starting here with the 10km. I’m aiming to set a good start in the Absa race. 27:50 - 27:59 will be a good start for me."