'It's quality over quantity': Wildschutt on US training which has turned him into a force

In the build-up to the men's 5 000m final at the SA Senior National Track and Field Championships - a race expected to be one of the "fire" events of the championships, as someone put it - the talk in the paddock was the locals were itching to have a go at US-based compatriot Adriaan Wildschutt.

The locally based athletes' main reason for wanting to test the mettle of the country's national record holder at 3 000m, 5 000m and 10 000m apparently emanated from a little disbelief at how someone they used to dominate at all events six years ago was suddenly South Africa's leading light at distance running on the track.

But when the gun went off at the Msunduzi Athletics Track in Maritzburg on Saturday, Wildschutt was barely required to even shift out of cruise control as he managed both the stifling heat and stiff opposition, including 5 000m record predecessor Elroy Gelant, 2022 national champ Precious Mashele and SA middle-distance champions (800m and 1 500m) Tshepo Tshite and Ryan Mphahlele en route to a comfortable win in 13:30.38.