Seen here: Irvette van Zyl in action.
Photo Credit: Cherie Vale / NEWSPORT MEDIA
On 16 May in San Francisco in 1999, Elana Meyer was timed at 38 minutes 39 seconds for the 10km. That broke the SA Record of 38:48 set by Colleen de Reuck, in Spokane on 5 May, 1996.
On 15 May Irvette van Zyl will have a crack at Meyer’s at the 2016 Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN. The fast and flat route takes the athletes from Milnerton, through the harbour, into Cape Town CBD, to finish outside in the Absa offices at the Portside Building in Bree Street.
“She will need to run at 3:13/km pace,” says coach Lindsey Parry. “It will be tough, but it is doable. After London (Marathon), she should have been tired, but the fact that she was able to run a 33:28 ten kilometre in Port Elizabeth on 7 May, means that she has plenty left in the tank, so it is certainly an achievable target.”
Van Zyl will feed off the men running around her as she is definitely in a class of her own in women’s road running in South Africa. “Mentally she is so strong right now,” said Parry, “that she is virtually unbeatable.”
Should van Zyl break the SA record, she will earn an additional bonus of R10 000 over and above the winner’s cheque of R40 000.00. “We need to motivate our athletes in South Africa,” said Stillwater Sports’ Michael Meyer. “They work extremely hard and right now we have a good core of middle distance athletes on the road who are capable of breaking the SA record in both the men’s and women’s field. We feel that this incentive is only right to give them an opportunity to race hard and show Cape Town just how good they are.”
Van Zyl has swept all before her in 2016 with leading times in South Africa ranging from 3 000m all the way up to the marathon and is the leading contender for a place on the Olympic Marathon spot.
“It has been a good year for me so far. I was disappointed with my time in London (marathon – 2:32.20), but I suffered in the cold and missed one water bottle which affected my race badly, so I am keen to run fast again and this incentive comes at a very welcome time in my running. I am close to the best shape of my life,” said Van Zyl.
With perfect weather conditions predicted for race day, it could well be that one of the oldest records in the South African stats books finally falls on May 15, 2016.
EVENT INFORMATION: Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN
| Date: | Sunday, 15 May 2016 |
| Time: | 09:00 |
| Start Venue: | Woodbridge Island, c/o R27 and Loxton Road, Milnerton (Cape Town) |
| Finish Venue: | Absa Building, Portside c/o Mechau and Bree Streets (Cape Town, CBD) |
Charity Support: When entering online, runners can choose to support either or both of the Absa Cape Town ONERUN Charities: The Cape Of Good Hope SPCA and Die Burger Kersfonds.
Facebook: Ctown12 / CapeofGoodHopeSPCA
Twitter: @CTown12
For more information on: Die Burger Kersfonds email azelia.morkel@media24.com, Cape Of Good Hope SPCA visit www.spca-ct.co.za, Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN visit www.thecapetown12.com
About the Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN sponsorship:
The Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN race is sponsored by Absa Business. The sponsorship forms part of the Bank’s ongoing strategy to support national and community events that have the potential to grow and inspire. The Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN affirms our dedication to providing an experience that is beyond expectation, through sporting disciplines that advance our commitment to building, enduring and rewarding relationships across communities in which we operate.
ENDS
ISSUED BY: Newsport Media
ON BEHALF OF: Absa Cape Town 12 ONERUN a Stillwater Sports Event