Gelant wins international championship
Elroy Gelant (37) tasted his second Durban International Marathon victory on Sunday 28 April, setting a new course record and putting him among a group of only six athletes who have been able to win the race twice. Gelant was also the champion in 2019.
On Sunday he finished in 02:09:32, missing the required Olympics qualifying time of 2:08:10 he was aiming for. However, he still has a chance to qualify by ranking. Before the race he was in the world 80th position, therefore part of the top 80 quota qualifying for the Paris Olympics in August.
He was aiming for the crown of national champion on Sunday to earn points to move him up in the rankings. "At the Hamburg Marathon this coming weekend one or two athletes may be placed in the top 80, but I think that should not affect my position," said Gelant, full-time lecturer at North West University and member of the Boxer Athletics Club.
He ran the Durban marathon under the colours of Athletics Central North West. "The competition was extremely tough, but it was positive. We were three who pushed each other right to the end."
The second and third over the finish line, Matthews Leeto and Stephen Mokoka, clocked 02:09:47 and 02:09:52 respectively.
"When I went over the finish line, I just felt gratitude that all the hard work and amazing support from everyone had come together in this win. It was an emotional moment," said Gelant.
Gelant has had an excellent season, setting a new personal record at the Sevilla Marathon in Spain in February where he missed the Olympics qualifying time by 40 seconds; earning a second place in the 10km Absa Rhino series, and a second in the 5 000m at the SA National Athletics Championship. On Sunday 12 May he will be running the 10km Run Your City Cape Town and on 1 June the South African Half Marathon Championships in Gqeberha, the
When I went over the finish line, I just felt gratitude that all the hard work and amazing support from everyone had come together in this win.
last race before the Olympics.
"Next week I'll slowly start preparing for the Olympics. I am so grateful to have come this far and for the support of so many people: my trainer Jean Verster and my training friends in Potch, Puseletso Mofokeng and Ian Slinger; my girlfriend Tamsyn Thomas who gets up at 04:00 in the mornings to drive behind me in a car to light up the dark farm road where I train; my
family at home in George and my Pacaltsdorp training group with Lloyd Bosman among them encouraging everyone in the early morning hours on our WhatsApp group. Lloyd and I often brainstorm and advise one another. I'm also grateful towards my doctor Emile Kotze and chiropractor Tjaart van der Merwe. All of these people are true pillars of support who push me onwards."