ELROY Gelant ran an impressive Paris 2024 Olympics Marathon yesterday morning where he narrowly missed out on the top 10 and immediately set his sights on the upcoming World Championships.
South Africa’s marathon champion finished in 11th place overall with a 2:09:10 to realise his objective of a top 15 finish in a race won by Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola in an Olympics record time of 2:06:26.
“It was one of my best marathons and there is a lot to come. The World Champs need to be a goal, to say let’s chase for top eight or a top five. You saw Tebello (Ramakgongana) from Lesotho did well (finished ),” Gelant said after the race in which he ran shoulder-to-shoulder with the great Eliud Kipchoge who failed to finish due to a hip injury.
The 37-year-old looked confident from the onset as he kept up with the lead group. The South African champion showed his intent when he pushed ahead of the big chasing group at about 16km behind early leader Eyob Faniel of Italy.
Tola broke away and caught up with Faniel just before the half marathon mark which he crossed in 64:51, with Gelant some eight seconds behind.
A huge lead group of 15 runners stuck together from there on and would only be broken up by the monstrous incline just before the 28th to the 29th kilometre.
It was on that hill that Tola really broke away, never to be caught.
Gelant struggled up that hill and like most he was left behind and could only look to realise his objective of a top 15 as the leaders disappeared from view.
The Boxer Athletics Club runner had seen the hill the day before the race.
“It was not an easy race. I did course inspection on Friday and I saw it was a killer course but it helped me in terms of preparations and what to expect,” he reflected.
“It helped to do the route with that killer hill that is worse than Two Oceans (ones) but it was still a bit tough. I did not have the legs to go with them on the hill.”
Though the race was tough, Gelant was delighted he realised his objective.
“My goal was a top 15 (finish). I am pleased with my performance. I could have done better, but from last Olympics where I finished 34th, I have improved.”
His compatriot Stephen Mokoka also improved from his showing in Tokyo where he did not finish due to the debilitating heat and humidity.
Mokoka finished in 27th place with a 2:10:59.
“The minimum goal was to finish because the previous one I did not finish and I finished in a 2:10. Even when Bab’ Josiah (Thugwane) won it was a high 2:10. It was tough, I thought we would run the hill at about four minutes but it was going at 3:15,” said Mokoka.
It was Gelant once again who flew the South African flag high with his 11th place finish. And he is now looking to do better at the World Championship in Tokyo next year.
And on the strength he showed in Paris yesterday there is reason to believe he can realise his top five goal.