'We remain hopeful' - Bruwer confident about 2025 after TymeBank Langa AC's strong 2024
It is a well established fact that when it comes to distance running, training at altitude has a significant advantage. This scientific truth which is evident the world over, is also clear in South Africa where the nation's best 10km performers continue to live and train at altitude at least 1500m above sea level or higher. This season for example, every single one of the five SA men (Maxime Chaumeton, Elroy Gelant, Kabelo Mulaudzi, Thabang Mosiako and Stephen Mokoka) that broke 28 minutes for 10km, live and train on the highveld. Cape Town-based Chris Bruwer is trying to buck that trend.
As the head coach of the TymeBank Langa Athletic Club, Bruwer has begun making steady inroads with some of his coastal athletes featuring prominently in some of the country's major races. Fortunate Chidzivho for instance, famously won the prestigious 2022 Two Oceans Half Marathon, while this season Edward Jack showed that he is ready to start competing at the highest level. The Zimbabwean 10km specialist ran a personal best 29:28 when he claimed 24th position at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K race in July in which five men dipped under 28 minutes. The 22-year-old then followed that up with two top 20 finishes at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE and JOBURG 10K races at altitude to go with no less than six 10km race victories accumulated in his adopted Cape Town in the last six months.
Bruwer says Jack's improvement in 2024 is a perfect example of why the elite development club was started in the first place. "The goal has remained the same since inception, which is supporting runners to remain in the sport for as long as possible in order realise their full potential. Over the last decade we have seen more and more national and international middle and long distance runners only reaching their potential deep into there 30's, so we remain hopeful. The team has dominated the races in the Western Cape over the past six months. Last week we competed in our last team event, the GrowthPoint 10km, and the men finished 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6th place which highlights our dominance as a small team in the Western Cape."
But becoming the dominant 10km and 21km force on the Western Province Athletics road running circuit would not be possible without the support the club enjoys from a number of partners. With TymeBank as the headline sponsor and the likes of Joma supplying training shoes and REFUEL as the nutrition partner, Bruwer's athletes can focus on training and trying to climb the elite athlete ladder, safe in the knowledge that everything else has been taken care of.
"The CEO of TymeBank, Karl Westvig, also founded Retail Capital, which is now part of TymeBank, it has been close to 6 years now that they have sponsored the Langa AC as well as the team. They provide us with financial support, which is allocated across individual support contracts, entries, medical support, and travel outside of the province where appropriate. What makes this unique is that they have never been prescriptive and are aligned with our focus to help runners develop and hopefully be able to not only survive in the sport, but ultimately to thrive as well," explained the man who also coached the great Elana Meyer during her heyday.
So after a successful season featuring a whopping 40 first place finishes from their athletes who include William Kaptein, Raydon Balie and trail runner Mile Geldenhuys, Bruwer is confident of an even better showing in 2025 especially after recruiting some promising top runners. "To continue to support the existing team, we have signed an exciting new talent Yanga Malusi from the Eastern Cape, he has over raced to survive in my view, which is completely understandable. So, for now we are looking to redevelop a strong base and improve general speed and strength. We must strengthen our ladies’ team, it’s so sad to see loads of talent disappear after school as the economic realities hit hard."
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