The Gelvandale 10km road race will be held at the Gelvandale Athletics track, Liebenberg Road, Gelvandale on Saturday, 14 October.
The 10km road race starts at 06.00 and 5km family walk/run at 06.15.
The well-established Gelvandale Run, which was formerly over a 15km distance, is sponsored by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as part of the Legacy Project.
“Eastern Province Athletes have enjoyed a great year of running to-date with our province finishing first on the Medal Table at the NMB Half Marathon in June this year, said race director, Mike Mbambani.
“The Gelvandale 10km will be a strong training race for our local top athletes as they are preparing for the SA 10km Championships which will be held in Nelspruit on November 4.
“Eastern Province has a large talented team of 24 athletes competing in the Championships, so we are expecting an exciting finish at Gelvandale,” he added.
Desmond Zibi, of Ikhamva Club, had a fantastic run last year breaking the EP Athletics record in his 50-59 age category in an impressive time of 0.50.54.
Zibi, who recently turned 60, will now be aiming to break the 60-69 age category record which is currently held by Tamsanqa Jusayi, who ran a time of 35.48 at the Clover 10km in 2003.
“The Gelvandale 10km is a new route so course is not known, but I am going there to break an EP record, I’ve moved up to the 60-69 age category, and I am determined to bring these records down,” said Desmond Zibi.
“I need to sharpen up my race for the SA 10km Championships in Mpumalanga in November,” he added.
Last year, twenty-two-year-old Cwenga Nose, of Ikhamva Club, had an excellent debut 15km run finishing strong in 0.47.32 and beating Andile Motwana of Nedbank running club to the finish line. Andile finished second in a time of 0.48.00, with Cwenga’s team-mate, Sinawo Poti, in third place, in 0.48.38.
The 2022 15km saw Ntombesintu Mfinzi finish first in 0.58.54, with Aviwe Hoboloshe, of Ikhamva, in second place, in a time of 1.00.09 for her first 15km, Kayla Nell, of Charlo athletics club, finished third in 1.00.59.
Online entries are available on webtickets.co.za and close on Tuesday, 10 October. Entries can also be handed in at Brian Bands, The Footballer and UD Sport in Uitenhage until Wednesday, 11 October.
Collection of race numbers and late entries will be accepted at the race venue from 17.00 – 19.00 on Friday, 13 October and from 05.00 on race day.
Prize giving will take place at 07.45. All entrants must be present to win.