TWO of Mzansi’s prominent road runners, Sikhumbuzo Seme and Elroy Gelant, describe taking part in the Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run as a distinctive honour.
Thousands of South Africans are set to take part in the 5km walk and 10km fun run at the Union Buildings on Sunday.
Elite runners will be joined by celebrities and ordinary South Africans in the fourth edition of the event that was launched in 2014 to honour the memory of SA’s first democratically elected president.
The starter’s gun for the 10km race will go off at 7.30am and the participants in the 5km walk will set off 15 minutes later.
Gelant, who defended his title at the SA 10km Championships in Nelspruit last month, says he is looking forward to his debut remembrance run.
The athlete, based in Potchefstroom, clocked a time of 29:08 to hold on to his national title.
The 5 000m Rio 2016 Olympian also secured a podium finish at the Old Mutual Soweto half marathon, where he managed a second place finish in a time of 1:07:16.
The Boxer Running Club athlete wants to end his year on a high note by claiming the highest spot on the podium this weekend.
Gelant said: “It’s an honour to run in the Nelson Mandela Remembrance race. The moment I heard about the race I knew I had to register and take part. I’m looking forward to the race and just want to enjoy myself.”
Local boy Seme, who is coached by his father, legendary athletics coach Michael Seme, is also looking forward to race day.
Seme lives in Tshwane and said he would be doing himself an injustice if he didn’t take part.
Seme, the training partner of long distance sensation Stephen Mokoka and road running queen Glenrose Xaba, is based at the High Performance Centre at Tuks.
His best performance in 2017 was his fifth place finish at the Nelson Mandela Marathon in Pietermaritzburg in August when he clocked a time of 2:29:32 to become the highest placed South African in the top 10.
Seme added: “It’s been a long year but taking part in this race would be an honour because of the name associated with the event.”
