R20k for 5km! Big prize money at inaugural Boxer Super Run as Gelant prepares to take on young guns
Not many 37-year-old elite athletes are running new 10km lifetime bests, especially when they have been running at the highest level for the better part of two decades. Yet that's exactly what Elroy Gelant did when he took second place at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10k on Sunday. The Olympian produced a 28:04 clocking to eclipse his previous mark by a whopping fourteen seconds and send out a strong warning to his competitors that he remains as dangerous as ever over the shorter distances.
"Ya, it was a great run," he told #TheTopRunner moments after collecting his R27 000 runners-up cheque. "I wasn't actually checking my watch but I knew we were on course for 27 minutes because we were averaging about 2:49 or 2:50 a kilometre. So I knew it was going to be a personal best. It's a good indication of where I'm currently at with my training."
The man who is coached by Jean Verster is currently preparing for the world Half Marathon Championships at the end of September and so is balancing speed with distance to ensure that he is both strong enough and fast enough to compete with the best in the world over 21km. The second fastest South African 5000m runner of all time (13:04.88) says part of that preparation is running well over the shorter distances where the younger runners are inspiring him to go faster.
"There's a massive change in South African running. You can see the confidence with which the guys are running. We laid the foundation myself and Stephen (Mokoka), but it's vice versa now because Kabelo (Mulaudzi) is also motivating me to go for that sub 28. I was so happy when I saw Kabelo next to me and Nico (Seoposengwe) behind me. It's so nice because these youngsters can also pull us now for these fast times because it's a new wave of athletes coming through and we need to jump on this wave as well."
It means that Gelant will fancy his chances of causing an upset when he lines up against the likes of Mulaudzi, Seoposengwe and Precious Mashele at the inaugural Boxer Super Run 5km on Sunday 15 October 2023 in Durban. The event which caters for both social and elite runners is a point-to-point route starting at the Snell Parade with it's finish at the Blue Lagoon Park. And with a total prize purse of R142 000 and a winner's cheque of R20 000 up for grabs, Gelant will have added incentive to cross the finish line first.
"The 5km distance requires a blend of speed, endurance, and strategy, making it a compelling challenge for elites looking to showcase their athletic prowess," said says Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports. "When you couple this with an unparalleled prize purse that's truly worth contending for, you can look forward to witnessing a road running showdown that is guaranteed to be a spectator highlight. Prize money will be allocated to the Top 8 male and female finishers in the Open Category, with the winners each taking home a well-deserved R20 000. We can’t wait to see the best of the best in action at the Boxer Super Run." Click HERE to enter the race.