The road to Rio is a long one but Lusapho April is well on his way as the Eastern Cape’s premier long distance runner to hopefully be heading for his second appearance at the Olympic Games.
East London-based April, is one of 23 South African long distance athletes – eight being women and 15 men – who have qualified to represent the country at August’s showpiece event.
The final team to be selected by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) in which only three men and three women will compete for the country, is still to be named and he is anxiously waiting to see if he will make the cut.
“I definitely think I have done enough to make the final cut. I am right up there and believe I should be going to Rio,” April said.
At the London Olympics in 2012, April finished 43rd overall after initially being well-placed in the run.
“He ran comfortably in the second group which included the eventual fourth and fifth finishers until the 27km drinks station, where he caught his foot under the advertising boarding as he reached for his drinks bottle on a table and fell,” April's coach Karen Zimmerman said.
“Someone from Romania helped him up and he limped to the finish as the top South African.”
This time around he will be eager to put in a top performance and give the country a shot at a medal.
“I am very happy with where I am at the moment, my body is feeling strong, I am working hard in training and things are going well,” April said.
“I have been in very good form recently and hopefully I can just keep going, keep improving and when the time comes to deliver, I will put in a good performance and get a podium (finish), which I think is a distinct possibility.”
With just over two months to go to the Olympics, April will not be competing in many races but will be training hard before one last tune-up in late July before the main event gets under way in August.
“The half marathon in PE will be my next event and I think my final race test before the Olympics,” April said.
“I will be putting in a lot of hours of training until then and keeping myself in top shape.”
So far this year April has been in great form and has picked up some good race wins.
He managed a solid sixth place finish at the New York City half marathon in the US in March, came third in the Freedom Run (10km) in Motherwell in April and finished second in the Aliwal North half marathon earlier this month. He has claimed first- place finishes in the Border Masters half marathon in February and Siza Vitality half marathon in Port Alfred in April.
His biggest achievement has to be his claiming his third Hannover Marathon title also in April, after initial triumphs in 2011 and 2013.
“He tries to win every race he enters and the goal is to run as well as he can on the day,” Zimmerman said.
“I am confident that he has done well enough to make the team.
“So much depends on what happens on the day of the race, how he feels and how he copes with the weather conditions. We are expecting it to be hot and humid in Rio.”
It is certainly an exciting time for April and Eastern Cape running as a whole and his fans will now be waiting with bated breath to see if he makes the team, and then hopefully go on to Rio Olympic glory.
April in running for Rio games
East London-based April, is one of 23 South African long distance athletes – eight being women and 15 men – who have qualified to represent the country at August’s showpiece event.
The final team to be selected by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) in which only three men and three women will compete for the country, is still to be named and he is anxiously waiting to see if he will make the cut.
“I definitely think I have done enough to make the final cut. I am right up there and believe I should be going to Rio,” April said.
At the London Olympics in 2012, April finished 43rd overall after initially being well-placed in the run.
“He ran comfortably in the second group which included the eventual fourth and fifth finishers until the 27km drinks station, where he caught his foot under the advertising boarding as he reached for his drinks bottle on a table and fell,” April's coach Karen Zimmerman said.
“Someone from Romania helped him up and he limped to the finish as the top South African.”
This time around he will be eager to put in a top performance and give the country a shot at a medal.
“I am very happy with where I am at the moment, my body is feeling strong, I am working hard in training and things are going well,” April said.
“I have been in very good form recently and hopefully I can just keep going, keep improving and when the time comes to deliver, I will put in a good performance and get a podium (finish), which I think is a distinct possibility.”
With just over two months to go to the Olympics, April will not be competing in many races but will be training hard before one last tune-up in late July before the main event gets under way in August.
“The half marathon in PE will be my next event and I think my final race test before the Olympics,” April said.
“I will be putting in a lot of hours of training until then and keeping myself in top shape.”
So far this year April has been in great form and has picked up some good race wins.
He managed a solid sixth place finish at the New York City half marathon in the US in March, came third in the Freedom Run (10km) in Motherwell in April and finished second in the Aliwal North half marathon earlier this month. He has claimed first- place finishes in the Border Masters half marathon in February and Siza Vitality half marathon in Port Alfred in April.
His biggest achievement has to be his claiming his third Hannover Marathon title also in April, after initial triumphs in 2011 and 2013.
“He tries to win every race he enters and the goal is to run as well as he can on the day,” Zimmerman said.
“I am confident that he has done well enough to make the team.
“So much depends on what happens on the day of the race, how he feels and how he copes with the weather conditions. We are expecting it to be hot and humid in Rio.”
It is certainly an exciting time for April and Eastern Cape running as a whole and his fans will now be waiting with bated breath to see if he makes the team, and then hopefully go on to Rio Olympic glory.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos