Elroy Gelant wins the Absa Run Your City 10km for the first time in Durban

Gallant clocked in at 27:47 to earn the R30 000 prize for his victory, with a R60 000 bonus for completing the race in sub-28 minutes, as Kabelo Mulaudzi secured second place (27:53) and Thabang Mosiako (27:54) completed the all-SA podium.

Although he finished second behind Kenyan runner Vincent Langat in Gqeberha and Cape Town, Gelant claimed the top spot in Kwa-Zulu Natal in his final race before gearing up for the 42.2km Olympic marathon in Paris next month.

"It feels great, especially knowing that the final stretch was crucial in the last 400m to cross the finish line. I saw Kabelo closing in behind me, and when I finally crossed, I was overwhelmed with happiness," Gelant told SABC Sport.

"I reminded myself not to give up, relying on the determination and discipline that I have built through my training. 

"This win is a significant boost for my confidence as I prepare for the Olympics. There was some pressure on me as the favourite to win the race, but now I feel assured about my performance in the Olympic marathon."

The 37-year-old has clocked the two fastest 10km times by a South African male runner this year, and demonstrated his dominance on the local scene by winning both the national marathon and half-marathon titles.

Next in his sights is the national 10km record, which he missed by just 12 seconds on Sunday.

"For the second time, you know, I am thankful for the consistency. The SA record is 27:35, and I need to respect it and take my time before going for it," he added.

"I’ve been running since I was nine years old, and through confidence and hard work, I have grown. Over the past three years, I’ve been finding my balance between work and running. 

"Now, everything is paying off and shaping up nicely. I’m having a good year, thanks to the structure we put in place last year. It’s paying off. For me, I always aim for a positive race and knew that I could win by going hard from the start."

READ: Glenrose Xaba breaks Elana Meyer’s long-standing SA 10km record