"I just want to enjoy the moment" - Wildschutt reflects on strong start to 21km career after NY Half Marathon victory

Just two weeks after winning the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K, South African long distance sensation Adriaan Wildschutt celebrated one of the biggest titles of his career when he won yesterday’s (15 March) New York Half Marathon in 59:30 on a cold and breezy morning in The Big Apple. 

Wildschutt, who was running on only the second half-marathon of his career after debuting with an SA Record 59:13 at the Valencia Half Marathon last October, delivered a well tactical performance sticking with the leading pack till around 18km where he made the decisive move that secured his victory. By crossing the finish line first, the US-based Hoka athlete became the first South African to win the race as American Zouhair Talbi placed second in 59:41, India’s Gulveer Singh took the third spot in 59:42 to become that country’s first athlete to dip under 60 minutes for 21,1km. Speaking to #TheTopRunner, the 27-year-old Wildschutt was elated to be break the tape at Central Park saying everything happened according to plan. 

In only the second 21km race of his career, Wildschutt emerged victorious at the New York Half Marathon. Photo Credit: NY Half Marathon.

"I was excited about getting the great performance ( on Sunday). We prepared well. This was the big focus for the first half of the season. We prepared well and I was excited about getting the performance and also happy that it all worked out,” said Wildschutt, who clocked 27:47 for victory at the opening Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race of the season in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality on 1 March. 

"Coming into the race was to goal was to compete and put myself in pole position to finish inside the top three. I felt good from the start,” said the top runner who finished inside the top ten in the 2024 Olympic 10 000m final. “Then I wanted to keep my composure and wait for the last three miles to make a big push. It really worked out the way I anted because when I made the big move, no one responded."

Wildschutt celebrates victory at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY GQEBERHA 10K on 1 March which formed part of his preparation for his 11 second win at the NY Half two weeks later. Photo Credit: Anthony Gröte.

The holder of four national records on the track, Wildschutt has transitioned well to the road. But the Ceres-born athlete isn't letting his strong start to 21km racing inflate his ego, opting instead to savour the moment without undue pressure. His plans for the season's second half remain undecided.

"I enjoy the distance so far and obviously it’s not always going to go your way. But this time around, we prepared very well. It seems like my body is responding well to the half marathon. But I'm not getting ahead of myself. I'm taking it day by day and enjoy the moments as they come. The future will figure itself out. We haven't planned the second half of the season. For now, we just want to enjoy, relax, recover and start again. We will figure out soon what to do next, " he concluded.