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Nelson Mandela Bay's leading long-distance runner and reigning SA half marathon champion Melikhaya Frans is gearing up for a tilt at one of the world's most iconic marathons - the Boston Marathon.
After a stellar performance at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, last year, 33-year-old Frans received a coveted invitation to join the elite group of runners on the start-line for the 127th edition of the Boston Marathon on Monday the 17th of April 2023.
Speaking candidly to AlgoaFM Sport, Frans said he would not be travelling all the way to Boston just to make up the numbers.
"I'll be going there with the mindset that I can win this thing," said Frans. "You have to go in with that belief, otherwise what's the point?"
Frans said he has watched the Boston Marathon countless times on television and that its a dream come true to finally be part of such a famous race.
"I feel like I know the course like the back of my hand, even though I've never been there before," he said.
"Its a rather hilly course and that will definitely suit me. I also have to grab this opportunity with both hands, hold onto this baton and run with it for many years to come."
Before Boston, Frans has the honour of pacing the field for the first 36 km of the Nedbank Runified Breaking Barriers 50 km on the city beachfront on the 26th of February.
"If they stick with me at 3.09 pace (minutes per kilometre) they will definitely break the 50k record - the only thing that could get in our way is bad weather."
Frans has also been named the first elite man in the field for the inaugural Absa Run Your City Gqeberha 10K on Sunday 2 April - also in Summerstrand.
"Both those events will form an important part of my preparation for Boston, in terms of both stamina and speedwork," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to putting on a good show in front of my home fans here in Nelson Mandela Bay and then I want to make my country proud when I mix it up with the superstars of long distance running in Boston."
