The North-West University’s (NWU’s) long-distance champion, Elroy Gelant, walked away with the laurels in the Two Oceans half marathon in Cape Town.

Elroy’s time of 01:03:20 shows that the 32-year old assistant at the NWU’s People and Culture department is well on track to reach his goals for 2019.

Next in his sight is the Denmark Marathon, after which the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokio is beckoning.

Elroy has been runner-up of the Two Oceans half marathon twice – in 2015 and 2016 – and is also the South African 5 000 m record holder.   

“It was a great relief to finally win the Two Oceans half marathon,” says Elroy. “It was one of my goals at the beginning of the year and it was wonderful to achieve it. I’m really very happy. It was a highly competitive field with about 10 guys who could have won.”

He says a marathon is like a game of chess. “You have to make your moves at the right time and you must keep an eye on the other athletes’ moves. It is about perseverance and your desire to win.”

According to Elroy he has 13 weeks of hard training behind him. “My next goal is the South African half marathon record in Denmark later this year, and to succeed I will have to run a sub 60 minute race.”

The vice-chancellor of the NWU, Prof Dan Kgwadi, was very chuffed with Elroy’s grand showing. He gave Elroy a congratulatory letter on behalf of the university, told him how proud he is of his achievements and wished him well for his next marathons.   

 Prof Dan Kgwadi, NWU vice-chancellor, and Elroy Gelant, the NWU’s super long-distance runner.