Ten years after winning his first Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon title, Elroy Gelant turned back the hands of time with another memorable performance at South Africa’s premiere 21km race.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon, incorporating the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Half Marathon Championships, got off to a wet and windy start on Marine Drive in the Gqeberha suburb of Summerstrand on the morning 1 June 2024.
Gelant immediately took the pace out hard and was followed by 2021 champion Precious Mashele. But the blustery conditions meant that the chasing pack which included defending champion, Thabang Mosiako, Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo and Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) athlete, George Kusche, soon closed down. Gelant and Mashele as the leading men passed the 10km mark in 31:30 which was an indication of the challenging conditions.
The second half of the race though, produced fireworks as Gelant, Mosiako and 21km debutant, Nicholas Seoposengwe, surged as they ran past the Nelson Mandela University and worked together to drop Kusche and Mofolo while moving away from the large leading bunch of over ten contenders.
Taking the final u-turn on Beach Road as they headed back to the finish line 2,5km away, only Gelant and Mosiako were left. 37-year-old Gelant, who won the first edition of the race back in 2014, powered into the wind and away from Mosiako to win his second national title in a matter of four weeks as he crossed the finish line in 1:03:54. A fast-finishing chasing bunch made up of 2022 champion Namakoe Nkhasi from The Mountain Kingdom, Mashele and Mofolo caught Mosiako and Seoposengwe as Nkhasi finished as the runner-up in 1:04:04 and Mashele took third in 1:04:05 for Central Gauteng Athletics (AGN), Mofolo fourth (1:04:05) and Mosiako fifth (1:04:15) for the host province.
“It wasn’t easy. I knew I had to take it out from the start especially with the wind. The first 2km I took it out hard. But I knew it was going to be a chess game – a tactical race. It was difficult but I told myself that my training had gone well, and I just had to trust my preparation. Ten years back we had the same conditions, so I just told myself that you don’t need to be scared,” said Gelant, who takes home R100 000 for his efforts.
In the women’s race Ethiopia’s Tadu Nare dominated from the start, as she led from gun to tape to win in 1:12:01 to her compatriot Diniya Abaraya’s 1:12:31 who finished as the first junior. Lesotho’s Blandina earned third place in 1:13:39 while Glenrose Xaba in fourth overall (1:13:42) finished as the first South African to defend her SA title.
Reflecting on the ten years of the event, Race founder and director, Mike Mbambani, says as the richest 21km race in the country, the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon has put Eastern Province Athletics (EPA) on the map as the hosts of one of the country’s best road running events.
“This event is pure development, we are bringing competition to our doorstep and giving our athletes the opportunity to perform with top competitors. “We’ve managed to build our flagship event with a strong LOC, to attract the crème de la crème of athletes. “Our winner’s prize money has grown from R35 000 in 2014 to R100 000 ten years later, and with this incentive we have attracted a highly competitive male and female field to tackle our flat and fast course,” added Mbambani.
MMC for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro’s sport, recreation, arts and culture, Bassie Kamana, added his endorsement to this world class event.
“10 years is no mean feat, and certainly cause to celebrate our partnership with EP Athletics and Athletics SA, as a municipality we are elated with the growth of this event. “Gqeberha is the capital of road running and we pride ourselves that our metro hosts world class national and international events like the NMB Half Marathon,” said Kamana.
Video: Historic Win for Gelant at Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon
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