Brooks remains unbeaten as challengers come from all sides
Over 1 200 runners took part in the event organised by Waterfall Athletics Club.
The Mamepe Striders’ top runners, Tshepang Mahlangu and Thabiso Mokgotla, tried in vain to upstage the prolific Tyran Brooks during the third CGA Cross-Country League meeting at the Kwa-Thema Sports Complex on May 18.
But to their detriment, Mahlangu and Mokgotla, from Tsakane, found the Boxer AC athlete at his absolute best when the Alberton resident continued his dominance of the U15 boys’ 4km race.
Sandwiched between the hordes of runners at the start, Brooks looked focused despite the shoving and pushing.
He took the lead immediately after the gun went off, thwarting any attempts of a contest from Mahlangu and Mokgotla.
Brooks won the race convincingly in 12:57. Mahlangu came in second 38 seconds later, and Mokgotla rounded up the podium in 13:45.
The event, hosted by Waterfall City AC, saw over 1 200 runners compete as the race to the provincial champs in August took shape.
The Katlehong AC’s Indiphile Myeki continued his impressive run after obliterating the field in the U12 boys’ 3km, dipping under 11 minutes after clocking 10:12 for the win.
Kade Booysen of Boxer followed 30 seconds later, and his teammate, Sanele Mthonjeni, grabbed the third spot in 10:51.
Katelin Heymans of 32Gi won the U15 girls’ 4km race to continue her consistency, going 14:38 ahead of Chanel Groenewald, who crossed the line in 16:08 for second place. Onkgopotse Sejanamane of hosts Waterfall City AC completed the top three in 16:26.
In the main race, Waterfall’s Bennet Seloyi beat a tough line-up that included Gallopers top runner Sakhile Sangweni, Lesetja Papo, who finished sixth at the ASA national marathon last month, and Jonas Makhele from Entsika, to win the men’s 10km.
The race began quickly, with Simphiwe Thombela and Paseka Mosehla of Nedbank AC leading after the first lap.
But the experience of the elite runners showed after 4km when Sangweni took over the lead, with Seloyi behind and Papo in third.
Once the race reached its climax, Seloyi, who won the BNAC Marathon men’s 21.1km, showed his class and took over the reins, opening a gap neither Sangweni nor Papo could close.
It remained so until he crossed the line to win in 31:06, with Sangweni clocking 31:37 for second place. Makhele rounded up the podium in 32:34, while Papo finished fourth.
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Shokane Kgopotso won the women’s race in 48:21, while Benonian Chanè de Meyer was second in 48:53. Tshepiso Mofokeng came third in 49:28.
The CGA cross-country commission chairperson thanked the clubs and runners for supporting their programme since the start of the season.
“Thank you to the athletes and coaches for registering on time on the entry platform. This ensured we publish the results on time,” she said.
The next meeting is on June 1 in Dobsonville.
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