If having the defending champion, Joshua Cheptegei and South Africa\u2019s Thabang Mosiako, Phillimon Mathiba and sensation Ryan Mphahlele in the line-up for the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN isn\u2019t exciting enough, Kenya\u2019s John Langat and South Africa\u2019s Elroy Gelant have also confirmed their entry to the race on Sunday, 14 October 2018.<\/p>\n
Langat was third at the FNB Cape Town 12 ONERUN on 20 May this year and is no stranger to his opposition. With a 10km best of 27:58 run in Appingedam (Netherland) in 2015, Langat has the speed to mount a challenge for the podium in Durban. His 33:47 in Cape Town on 20 May came off the back of running a marathon on 6 May (2:14.59 \u2013 Skopje, Macedonia). Since then, the 21-year-old has gone back into training and has been preparing hard for the Durban race.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been working hard for Durban. I know it is a fast course and I know that Josh (Joshua Cheptegei) is in great form, so I am expecting a fast race. I want to break my PB and I think Durban will be one of the best chances I have to do so,\u201d said Langat from Kenya.<\/p>\n
Langat\u2019s pedigree is such that he needs to be taken seriously on race day. To go with his 10km PB of 27:58, Langat also boasts a best of 60:24 for the half marathon, which he ran earlier this year at the Venloop Half Marathon in Holland (25 March 2018). He also boasts a 45:37 best for 10 miles (16km) run in Tilburg, Holland in 2015.<\/p>\n
Elroy Gelant will be keen to improve on his 5th<\/sup> place in Durban from last year where he crossed the line in 29:12. It has been a difficult year for the 32-year-old Human Resources Assistant after having struggled with a hernia in December last year. Gelant had the necessary operation in April after finishing the SA Track season. But his lack of base work has cost him and as such his performances have not consistently been up to his usual high quality. That he has the pedigree and temperament to race hard on 14 October and to push for a podium, is a given. Despite little to no base work, Gelant finished second at the SA Half Marathon Championships in PE in July, clocking an impressive 61:48 (PB of 61:10 \u2013 Copenhagen, 2014). He showed he was coming back to his old form by finishing 6th<\/sup> at the FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN, clocking 30:22 on a tough course.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a difficult time since the op in April, but I am happy with my progress and I know that come Durban, I will be in really good shape. I want to end my season on a high and Durban is the perfect place to do that. So I will be challenging for a podium,\u201d said Gelant. \u201cIt is great to have these top guys from overseas coming to race us here. It means we don\u2019t have to travel, but it also means that the people in Durban get to see some of the best in the world in real life. That\u2019s really good for the sport and really good for us as South African athletes. So I am excited.\u201d<\/p>\n With Joshua Cheptegei, Ryan Mphahlele, Thabang Mosiako, John Langat and Elroy Gelant already committed to racing in Durban on 14 October and more athletes expected to be named, there is no doubt that the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN will be the race to end off the year \u2013 and with the form Cheptegei is in, expect another fast time, maybe even a new course record.<\/p>\n EVENT INFORMATION<\/u>:\u00a0 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN Celebrating its 2nd<\/sup> anniversary in 2018, the FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN grants entrants the unique opportunity to explore their city on foot.\u00a0 In addition to lively on-route entertainment and rubbing shoulders with some of the world\u2019s best middle distance runners, the 2018 FNB Durban 10K CITYSURFRUN route will also highlight a number of Durban\u2019s iconic landmarks.<\/p>\n
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