Adriaan Wildschutt optimistic about smashing the national 10km record in Gqeberha

The current record of 27 minutes and 35 seconds was set two years ago by Precious Mashele on the same course.

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Race organizers, Stillwater Sports, have paid lots of money to bring the 2024 Olympic 10,000m finalist from the United States in hopes that he can shatter the record and claim the R50,000 bonus, along with the R30,000 prize for winning.

Wildschutt, who holds South African records in the 10,000m outdoor, 10,000m indoor, 5,000m, and 3,000m events, is currently the country’s most accomplished middle-distance athlete.

''I'm in a good space, I just need to be feeling good on the day. I know that I am prepared to pull a top performance. I have realised that records come as results of competing at a highest level,'' said Wildschutt.

The Ceres-born runner is set to compete in his first road race in two years, having last participated in the Sanlam race in Cape Town.

He sees this event as a chance to make a strong statement on the road, especially after already securing qualification for the 10,000m and 5,000m events at the World Senior Championships in Tokyo, Japan, later this year.

''Like I said, I have been meaning to run a race in South Africa, especially on the road. I have been racing a lot on track, but now I want to try different things.  I think Gqeberha providing me with opportunity to run fast and explore,'' added Wildschutt.

The 26-year-old Adriaan Wildschutt, who turns 27 on May 3, will line up alongside his older brother, Nadeel Wildschutt - the reigning South African 10,000m champion. 

Despite competing at the same event, each will be focused on his own race, with Adriaan planning to lean on the Kenyan pacemakers to help him chase a fast time.

''I don't count on that too much not because of the pace but because the Kenyans in the race usually have a hard time sticking to the pace. And in that way I have to decide if I want to win or break the record, but I just follow my instinct,'' he expressed. 

The 10km is the only national record still missing from Wildschutt’s impressive list of achievements, but he isn’t overly focused on chasing it.

Instead, he remains relaxed about the chance to possibly add it to his name on Sunday.

The US-based runner has clocked 26 minutes and 50 seconds on the track, but he knows he'll need to pick up the pace slightly with each kilometre if he wants to run a faster race and ultimately break the record.