Trevor Gee 10km honours a legend

East London Athletic Club has been the “home” of Trevor Gee for in excess of seven decades, and so it is fitting that the club has named one of their races after a man who has served every branch of athletics, as runner, coach and administrator, both at club level and provincially.

On Sunday at 6.30am the Trevor Gee 10km takes to the roads of Beacon Bay, Nahoon Valley Park, Abbotsford and Dorchester Heights.

There is a 5km option as well.

Entries have been rolling in at the Beacon Bay outlet of Sportsman’s Warehouse and will also be taken on the morning of the race at the Beacon Bay Country Club start.

Those runners who chose hibernation through the winter months have had training friendly spring weather to get back on the road. Forecasts for race day are also most encouraging, with a start temperature of around 20°C and a gentle wind from the south-west.

The terrain varies somewhat, but offers a decent racing surface that should usher in reasonably fast times.

The race was not run in 2018, but in 2017 the men’s race was won by Vusumzi Zondo in 31:53, a time that should be beaten in the good conditions expected this year.

The women’s time was a respectable 38:06 set by Steph Smith. It too could fall, depending upon who chooses to race.

At last weekend’s 10km in King William’s Town, organised by BRAC, Malixole Kalideni of Old Selbornians won in a time of 32:12 with the host club’s Bulelani Mgubo a distant second in 34:06.

Twenty-year-old Tara Schwulst of Easy Equities Born 2 Run won the women’s race in 40:26, with Sandiswa Kundulu of Boxer second in 45:09.

It is likely the racing at the Trevor Gee will be far more competitive.

In the men’s race it is hoped that a few of the promising juniors will come through and show their worth.

There are also a some really promising junior women in the mix, who could well claim some of the limelight.

The race is a great warm up for the KomaniTwizza Bonkolo Marathon and Half Marathon two weeks from now.