Trevor Klose 10km to double as Border trial
Previously run on a quieter Sunday morning, the race has reverted to Saturday at 6.30am
A week’s break from local road races came as a welcome respite to many and easing back in with a 10km road race could well be the perfect recipe at the weekend.
The Trevor Klose 10km may be attractive to the masses, but is of significant importance to runners seeking to enhance their status within the province and beyond as the race has been identified by Border Athletics as a trial for selection to a Border team that will travel to the SA 10km Championships in Pretoria during August.
The race has not been run since 2019, so there will be much pre-race speculation as to what might be expected on the undulating course out and back from the East London Athletic Club headquarters in Cambridge West.
Previously run on a quieter Sunday morning, the race has reverted to Saturday at 6.30am.
Entries close on Wednesday at Sportsman’s Warehouse in Beacon Bay at 5pm.
Past times recorded through the categories give runners an idea of the makeup of the course.
The men’s winning time in 2019 was 33:21 on the back of a close tussle between Luthando Hejana and Vusumzi Zondo, who ended up finishing just two seconds adrift of the winner.
In third place was Malixole Kalideni, a full one minute and eight seconds off the pace.
Circumstances have changed dramatically since then, with Kalideni now the leading marathoner, half marathoner and a fine exponent over 10km too.
Yanga Malusi would be the man to beat, but he is injured and will be out of action for a few more weeks yet.
Vuyo Madikiza is the other 10km man to watch.
In 2019, the women’s race delivered Stephanie Smith, Tara Schwulst and Andrea Ranger as the first three home.
The former two have been out of action in recent times, while Ranger was also out of action for about a year but is back and running extremely well.
That she would be available for the championships is doubtful, however and attempts to contact Ranger were fruitless as the schoolteacher is on holiday.
The most likely woman to be considered for the team is veteran runner Hanlie Botha, who won her age category gold medal at the SA Half Marathon Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay earlier in June.
She finished eighth in the open category as well.
She is also Borders ’ most experienced runner at that level.
In 2019, Siyabulela Madlavana was still the veteran male to beat.
He won the race in 36:01, but Xolisile Sinkintana was making inroads on his older competitor, finishing just 28 seconds behind him.
That too has changed, with the last three years turning to Sinkintana’s advantage.
He too would be a good candidate for the championships, but the Daily Dispatch has been told he is training for the Comrades Marathon.
Similarly, Mzoli Mpalala, who won the gold medal in the 60-69 category at the half marathon, would also be a certainty but is also concentrating on the Kwazulu-natal epic on August 28.
With everything to run for, a competitive race should unfold.