Gelant aims to defend title as Kipkorir targets Sub-27 at Absa DURBAN 10K

As the defending champion, Elroy Gelant will be under the spotlight when he lines up for the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K on Sunday 13 July. He'll be joined by Kenya's Vincent Kipkorir – the fastest man in the field – who will also be among the top contenders for the win.

Gelant, who took eleventh position during last year's Olympic Marathon, used that performance in Paris to launch himself to a sizzling 2:05:36 lifetime best - almost a full minute faster than the 2:06:33 South African record run by Gert Thys 26 years earlier. Two weeks after setting that national record at the Hamburg Marathon, the Boxer Athletics Club ace surprised many by clocking a fast 28:08 to take fourth position at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K hosted in May this year.

Gelant celebrates victory at the 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. Photo Credit: Anthony Grote.

"My training has been going really well," says Gelant, who is a 3-time Olympian. "Obviously the big goal is the World Championships in Tokyo in September where I'll be running the marathon since I’ve already qualified. So all of my preparations are now set for the World Champs."

The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K features as a key milestone to determine Gelant’s readiness to finish inside the top ten over 42km in Japan. Reflecting on the 27:47 10km best he clocked to win the 2024 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K ahead of Kabelo Mulaudzi, the 38-year-old North West University lecturer says although he knows that winning a 10km race against younger, faster men won’t be easy, he is up for the job.

"Being the defending champion for the Durban leg of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES I intend to go out there and defend my title and also see If I can get close to running a personal best. It will also be a good race to test my leg speed going into the World Championships. I’m looking forward to it. My plan is to win the race. But it will be tough with all the quality performers we have in South Africa," admits Gelant.

Vincent Kipkorir in action during the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K earlier this year. Photo Credit: Action Photo.

In addition to the likes of Kabelo Mulaudzi and Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo, Gelant will also have to contend with Vincent Kipkorir. The Kenyan finished as the runner-up behind Adriaan Wildschutt at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K with an impressive 27:48 and then announced himself to the world a fortnight later when he clocked a world class 27:08 to take fifth place at the Adizero: Road to Records in Germany. In addition to winning the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K, Kipkorir is hungry to eclipse the 27:16 SA All-Comers record by delivering the fastest time ever run on SA soil.

"I'm feeling confident going into the Durban race," confirms Kipkorir. "I have worked hard to stay injury-free and maintain peak form. My goal in Durban is to run a very fast time - possibly a personal best if conditions allow. I'm aiming to go under 27 minutes. With the right course, conditions, and competition, running under 27 or even closer to 26:30 can happen here in Africa. The talent is here, the support is growing, and races like the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES are making it possible."