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South African marathon record holder Elroy Gelant will be the country’s sole representative in the men’s 42.2km race at the upcoming World Athletics Senior Championships in Tokyo from 13–21 September.
The 39-year-old University of North West lecturer from Potchefstroom has set his sights on a maiden podium finish at the global showpiece.
Gelant will also line up at the Cape Town Marathon on 13 October, just weeks after the world champs.
With a personal best of 2:05:36, the George-born athlete – coached by Athletics South Africa board member Jean Verster – is determined to build on his impressive form after narrowly missing a top 10 finish at the Paris Olympic Games, where he placed 11th.
“The preparations are going well, and I am ready for the big event. The goal is a podium, that’s what I am training for, but even a top 10 finish would still make me happy,” Gelant told SABC Sport.
While four South Africans qualified for the marathon, including Glenrose Xaba and Gerda Steyn, Gelant is the only one who has committed to running in Tokyo.
Earlier this year, he broke Gert Thys’s long-standing national record at the Hamburg Marathon in Germany, a mark that had stood since 1999.
Engaged to sprinter Tamzin Thomas, Gelant believes this could be the year he makes a strong statement on the global stage.
He opted to skip the ASA national road running championships, choosing not to defend his half-marathon title in Limpopo, and also sat out the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km to stay fresh and injury-free ahead of Tokyo.
“It’s all about choosing your races and sticking to your goal. The big goal this year is the marathon in Tokyo,” he explained.
South Africa has not won a major marathon medal since Josia Thugwane’s historic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
