Wildschutt Smashes 10km Sa Record In Windy Gqeberha Showdown

ADRIAAN WILDSCHUTT ran like the wind in The Windy City to smash Precious Masheles South African 10km record in winning the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Gqeberha 10K.

The America-based athlete, originally from Ceres in the Western Cape, clocked 27:28, slicing a full seven seconds off the time set by Mashele on the same course two years ago.

Wildschutt had aimed to run a 27-minute flat, but with the pace-setters going slow early in the race, he took charge to try to make up for lost time. He went through halfway in 13:54 a good 24 seconds slower than hed planned and with a headwind later in the race, it was touch and go for the record.

But the 26-year-old, a superbly talented athlete, gritted his teeth and went for it. Once hed dropped the challenge of Ethiopias Akilu Asfaw, who eventually finished fourth, Wildschutt was racing the clock, repeatedly checking his watch as he picked up the pace.

In the end, he comfortably broke the record, adding it to the other three South African records he holds 3000m 7:32.99, 5000m 12:55.02 and 10,000m 26:50.54 on the track.