South African long-distance star Elroy Gelant made history on Sunday, breaking one of the nation’s oldest athletics records with a blistering performance at the Hamburg Marathon.
The 38-year-old Gelant, a former national 5 000m record holder, finished fourth in the elite field with a stunning time of 2:05:36, shattering the longstanding South African marathon record of 2:06:33 set by Gert Thys in Tokyo back in 1999.
Gelant sliced an impressive 57 seconds off the old mark and obliterated his own personal best by more than three minutes – his previous best being 2:08:56, set in Seville last year.
Beyond the historic national milestone, Gelant’s performance also secured himself an automatic qualification for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September, comfortably beating the qualifying standard of 2:06:30.
Kenya’s Amos Kipruto won the race in 2:03:46, leading home a fiercely competitive field.
Major triumph
Elroy Gelant’s fourth-place finish cemented his place among the top marathoners on the global stage and marked a major triumph for South African distance running.
Gelant, who placed 11th in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, continues to show remarkable endurance and progression well into his late thirties – a testament to his longevity and determination in the sport.
His record-breaking run signals a new era for South African marathon running, inspiring hopes for even greater success on the world stage later this year.
Have you ever completed a marathon? If so, in what time?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
