Adriaan Wildschutt runs hot in freezing New York conditions

From Potchefstroom to New York is a matter of degree. 101 degrees of longitude separate the cities but more relevant to South Africa’s distance-running super-star, Adriaan Wildschutt, was the 30 plus degrees Celsius which marked the temperature gradient between the two cities which recently played host to Wildschutt.

The favourite son of Ceres, a Western Cape ‘dorp’ at the heart of the country’s fruit industry, Wildschutt is poised on the cusp of significant sporting and literary success.

Wildschutt is fast becoming one of South Africa’s most successful athletes of all time, chalking up national records and international titles almost at will. And there is little doubt that his autobiography, due to be launched in May, will become one of the most popular sporting books of 2026.

“I definitely want to read his autobiography when it launches in May – we all do!” enthused television anchor, Toni Yates, on the live broadcast as Wildschutt broke from the lead pack in the final quarter of last week’s New York City Half Marathon.

Wildschutt raced through the ‘Big Apple’ in a bracing 1 to 2 degrees Celsius shortly after returning from a South African summer, where he trained for five weeks in the Northwest Province’s Potchefstroom in temperatures in excess of thirty degrees.

“I thought maybe the cold was going to get to me.  But coach (Jack Mullaney) made sure I had all equipment I needed – arm sleeves, gloves and a hat – and it turned out really great,” Wildschutt reflected.

Wildschutt’s winning time of 59:30 in the 19^th edition of the race is the third fastest in the history of the event, behind Abel Kipchumba (59:09 in 2025) and Haile Gebreselassie (59:24 in 2007). And Kipchumba was one of the elite field unable to stay with Wildschutt as he wound up the tempo over the final 5km.

Remarkably, Wildschutt’s time in just his second half-marathon was not his fastest. The South African shattered Stephen Mokoka’s previous national half marathon record of 59:36 with a swift 59:13 in Valencia, Spain, in October last year.

“I was so happy (at the finish) that I was done,” Wildschutt said. “It’s only my second half marathon and first time in New York. The goal was just to run hard and I was so stoked that I was able to feel really strong as I know it’s not the best to come to the finish when you’re exhausted.”

‘Queen of distance running’, Kenyan Hellen Obiri, added the New York City Half Marathon title to that of the NYC Marathon she won last November, winning in a course-record of 1:06:33. Obiri broke from her compatriot, World Cross Country Champion, Agnes Ngetich, in the final quarter to win by 37 seconds ahead of another Kenyan and past NYC Marathon winner, Sharon Lokedi. 

While lacking the prominence of its ‘big brother’ of twice the distance, the NYC Half Marathon is equally competitive up front and Wildschutt’s victory against many of the world’s elite is comparable with the triumphs of fellow-South Africans Willie Mtolo and Hendrick Ramaala at the 1992 and 2004 New York City Marathons.

The elite NYC 21km field included American track star, Grant Fisher, making his road-running debut, and top Kenyans Patrick Kiprop and Abel Kipchumba.

“It was great having Grant (Fisher) in the race – obviously a world class athlete – and I wanted to be sure to work off of him tactically,” Wildschutt reflected. “But although I’m still pretty inexperienced on the road, having raced a couple of road races as a professional athlete definitely helped me.”

How did Wildschutt’s race at New York compare with his impressive half marathon debut at Valencia and how would he rate his performance there?

“I would say the weather was nice at Valencia, not too hot or cold, whereas New York was very cold – just 1 degree at the start of the race,” Wildschutt continued. “So the NYC Half Marathon win would probably rank as one of my best, just behind my 10 000m at the Paris Olympics which I rate as my all-time best performance, considering the whole experience of the Games.”

Wildschutt currently holds national track records over 3000m, 5000m and 10 000m as well as in the half marathon and it can only be a matter of time before he challenges Maxime Chaumeton’s road records over 5km (13:12) and 10km (26:55).

While based in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he is a prominent member of the HOKA Northern Arizona Elite squad, Wildschutt’s heart remains in Africa. “I’m very grateful for the amazing support I received on the NYC Half Marathon, not just from Ceres but from the whole country,” Wildschutt emphasised.  

And it’s no surprise he has chosen to return to South Africa in May for the launch of his autobiography, ‘Change of Pace’.  

“I hope you will all enjoy it,” Wildschutt posted recently. “And thank you so much for all your support – it means the world. Thank you, Lord, that my story can help others see their own potential regardless of circumstances.”

Results:  New York City Half Marathon

Pro Men

1. Adriaan Wildschutt (RSA) — 59:30
2. Zouhair Talbi (USA) — 59:41
3. Gulveer Singh (IND) — 59:42 

Pro Women

1. Hellen Obiri (KEN) — 1:06:33 (Event Record)
2. Sharon Lokedi (KEN) — 1:07:10
3. Megan Keith (GBR) — 1:07:13

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