Mamonyane sets the pace at provincials
She won the U11 girls' 1200m race in 03:52.33 to take the gold.
The East Athletic Club’s (EAC) Mahlatse Mamonyane was a cut above the rest as she won her third provincial gold of the year during the CGA sub-youth track and field championships at Germiston Stadium on November 23.
The 10-year old also qualified for her third straight nationals after grabbing the gold in the U11 girls’ 1200m race with a dominant performance from the gun to the tape.
Mamonyane, from Daveyton, got out of the blocks and quickly settled in front, trailed closely by Boxer’s Yasmin Jooste with a small pack, led by Mia Ingelthorpe and Benoni Northerns AC’s Kayla Botha, following behind.
The Daveyton-resident increased her lead after the first lap as the rest scrambled to catch up. The wheels came off of Jooste and she was overtaken by Ingelthorpe and Botha but the gap remained too big for the duo to challenge Mamonyane after the bell.
With 200m to go, Mamonyane peeped over her shoulder and spotted Ingelthorpe and Botha toiling behind.
She unleashed one last kick on the home-stretch to cross the line in 03:52.33, with Ingelthorpe second in 04:00.53. Botha clocked 04:02.81 for third to also qualify for the nationals.
None of the girls in the second heat recorded a faster time than the trio and so that top three from the first heat took overall honours.
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Other results
Bokamoso Nonyane got one over Boxer’s Philani Luthuli in the boys’ 1200m to win the gold. He led his heat from the gun and clocked 02:31 at the bell to eventually win the race in 03:47.06, while Luthuli won his heat in 03:47.57 for second overall.
In the absence of the injured Indiphile Myeki, no one challenged Siyanda Madlabane as the Northerns junior sportsperson of the year won the U13 boys’ 1500m in a dominant 04:33.12.
Tyler Holzapfel grabbed a bronze in the U13 boys’ 80m hurdles in 11.76 to seal his ticket to the nationals while sprinter Aaron Ani grabbed a pair of golds in the U7 boys’ 60m and 80m sprints.
Ani’s Northerns teammate, Luhlelo Mahungela also qualified for the nationals in the U11 boys’ 100m dash.
Young Bontle Makgalemele was joint first with Kealeboga Sefala in the U7 girls’ 80m sprint. They crossed the line in 12.78. This will be Bontle’s second nationals.
Others to also qualify for the nationals are Alexia Visser (fifth overall in the U9 girls 600m), Tamica Lloyd (fifth overall in U13 girls’ 800m) and Joshua Helena (sixth overall in U9 boys’ 600m).
The ASA inter-provincials are in Bloemfontein on December 7.
Also Read: EAC’s Mamonyane hopes for gold at provincials
