ELROY Gelant, who teamed up with rival runners to secure qualification from the men's 5000m heats yesterday morning, is living what he calls his second life after being stabbed by a thug five years ago.
Gelant strategised with veteran US star Bernard Lagat and others to help counter the two Ethiopians and two Kenyans in their heat at the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
The tactic saw Gelant take the lead for the first two laps, followed by Arne Gabius of Germany, then New Zealand's Zane Robertson, before the Kenyans tried to take over.
The Ethiopians took the lead with 1km to go and held on, but it was enough for third-placed Lagat to progress on position, and sixth-placed Gelant to advance on time - his 13:25.07 was the best of the five fastest losers. Lagat shook Gelant's hand afterwards and thanked him for his help.
"It was a bit of a sprint finish to keep up with them, but I think I did well. I'm looking forward to the final," he said. "I will really try to get top eight, maybe last two laps, see if I can stick with the top five guys, see if I can kick with them."
Gelant, with a 13:15.87 personal best, ruled out the possibility of going for Shadrack Hoff's 13:14.16 SA record in Friday's final, where Britain's Mo Farah will be looking to add to his 10000m gold.
"I think it's going to be very tactical ... The guys are going to look at each other, Mo Farah is going to run behind.
"I think they're not going to wait for the last 400m to go for Farah, they will attack maybe with 1000m to go," predicted Gelant, adding it was too dangerous to go for the national mark in Moscow.
Gelant's strategy works
ELROY Gelant, who teamed up with rival runners to secure qualification from the men's 5000m heats yesterday morning, is living what he calls his second life after being stabbed by a thug five years ago.
Gelant strategised with veteran US star Bernard Lagat and others to help counter the two Ethiopians and two Kenyans in their heat at the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
The tactic saw Gelant take the lead for the first two laps, followed by Arne Gabius of Germany, then New Zealand's Zane Robertson, before the Kenyans tried to take over.
The Ethiopians took the lead with 1km to go and held on, but it was enough for third-placed Lagat to progress on position, and sixth-placed Gelant to advance on time - his 13:25.07 was the best of the five fastest losers. Lagat shook Gelant's hand afterwards and thanked him for his help.
"It was a bit of a sprint finish to keep up with them, but I think I did well. I'm looking forward to the final," he said. "I will really try to get top eight, maybe last two laps, see if I can stick with the top five guys, see if I can kick with them."
Gelant, with a 13:15.87 personal best, ruled out the possibility of going for Shadrack Hoff's 13:14.16 SA record in Friday's final, where Britain's Mo Farah will be looking to add to his 10000m gold.
"I think it's going to be very tactical ... The guys are going to look at each other, Mo Farah is going to run behind.
"I think they're not going to wait for the last 400m to go for Farah, they will attack maybe with 1000m to go," predicted Gelant, adding it was too dangerous to go for the national mark in Moscow.
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