The well-known Potch athlete, Elroy Gelant, has now virtually booked his ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a sterling performance at the 2019 Cape Town Marathon in the colours of Athletics Central North West (ACNW).

Gelant took an overall fourth place in 2:10:30 and was the first South African over the line. Gelant finished a minute behind the overall winner, Kenyan, Edwin Koech, who won the race in 2:09:20.

Gelant also achieved his personal best time with this run and passed the Olympic qualifying time of 2:11:45 for the 42km marathon.

“The preparation has been excellent in Potchefstroom and the biggest challenge has been to get through the last 5km of the marathon. The first 35km in the Cape Town Marathon was very comfortable,” added Gelant who will look to make his mark in this endurance race next year at the Olympics.

“The ultimate dream is to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. If I get chosen for the squad, then I have a chance to perform. The Tokyo Olympics will also be hot and humid and this will change the pace of the race. It will be card game of sort mentally and I will hope to stay with the leading pack.”