Wildschutt reigns supreme with sub 28 at Sanlam Cape Town 10km Peace Run

South African middle and long distance sensation Adriaan Wildschutt was in a class of his own when he produced an incredible 27:53 run to scorch the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 10k Peace Run on this morning. Nedbank Running Club's Andries Sesedi followed him home to take second place one minute and three seconds later with Collen Mulaudzi finishing third in a time of 29:35. After setting the track alight this year with three SA records in the 3 000m, 5 000m and 10 000m, Wildschutt delivered an exceptional performance on the road for the first time in 6 years to become only the sixth South African to dip under 28 minutes on home soil.

This year SA 10km record holder Precious Mashele, Thabang Mosiako, Kabelo Mulaudzi and Stephen Mokoka have all clocked sub-28 minutes on the roads in Gqeberha and Durban, while Maxime Chameuton was the first to achieve that feat during 2022 Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K. Speaking to #TheTopRunner, the first South African to clock a 27-minute 10k in Cape Town said he is delighted with the performance.

A dominant Wildschutt wins his first road race in six years by over a minute. Photo Credit: Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

"I'm very excited to be able to run a quick time and win. I felt pretty good for the most part. I knew the race won’t be paced so I took it upon myself to just go for it. Well I knew from the 2km split I was well inside sub 28:00 pace so I just tried to stick to that and fight the last 2km’s. It’s pretty tough to try and run under 28:00 by yourself. I haven’t done a road race in six years and having the opportunity to do it here in Cape Town where everything started was fun. It would have been fun if there was more competition to try and run even faster. With that being said, I always wanted to run sub 28:00 on South African soil. So, that was exciting," said an elated Wildschutt.

Wildschutt who hails from the town of Ceres in the Western Cape where he was discovered before moving to the United States on a college scholarship is expected to go back to USA on Tuesday. He thanked people who have supported him saying the success he has enjoyed in 2023 in particular would not have been possible without an entire team behind him.

Wildschutt, Sesedi and Mulaudzi pose after finishing on the podium. Photo Credit: Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

"Well, obviously it’s a variety of people that help me stay healthy and consistent which allows me to train at a high level. That would certainly be my team NAZelite and sponsor Hoka. But also, my coaches and family that I always talk to, that gives me a lot of inspiration. My brother too, we are very close always had been. So that helps a lot. Finally, my girlfriend, whenever I struggle I always talk to her which help a lot. Not everything is always smooth sailing, so yes all those people help me perform at a high level, "

But the 25-year-old who represented South Africa in the 10 000m at the World Championships in Hungary in August, was quick to add that even after this lightening quick run, he is not planning to switch on road running just yet."I'm still a way from switching to the road permanently, but that’s definitely something I am thinking about doing once I’m done with the track. I have this feeling that I still have some things to do on the track."

The women's race was won by Hollywood Athletics' Club's Irvette van Zyl. Like Wildschutt in the men's event, van Zyl was unchallenged from gun to tape as she clocked 33:56 to win by 1:24 from Nwabisa Mjoli of the Phantane Athletic Club, while local lass Lisha van Onselen took third place in 36:32.