Brooks victorious in first league of the season
He won the U16 and U17 boys' 6km.
Alberton resident Tyran Brooks made his comeback to competitive running after an injury lay-off with a stunning victory at the fourth Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) league meeting in Daveyton on June 28.
Known as Bhubezi, Brooks missed the first half of the season after fracturing his leg earlier this year.
He won the U16 and U17 boys’ 6km race with an incredible sprint to the finish to outshine the formidable Katlego Malatji of Kopano AC.
Brooks crossed the line in 20:41, while Malatji followed seven seconds later.
The Hoërskool Marais Viljoen learner’s comeback was welcomed with loud cheers as his fans – young and old – followed him around during his warm-up, while some CGA officials expressed their excitement about the Boxer AC runner’s return.
Though he wasn’t expected to compete, Brooks showed no signs of rustiness. After a quiet first lap, he started to impose himself as part of a leading bunch consisting of Malatji, Ivory Park AC’s Keamogetswe Letsoalo and Tshepo Ntlatla of Diepsloot AC.
The bunch dropped Ntlatla after the second lap and it soon became a two-horse race as Letsoalo’s wheels also came off.
Brooks, meanwhile, didn’t overwork himself. He remained on Malatji’s heels and countered every move the Kopano youngster made.
As they approached the finishing straight, Brooks made his move. Malatji responded but didn’t have the energy and strength to catch the U15 4km national champion.
Brooks took it with a sprint finish for first place overall and in the U16 boys’ category.
Malatji clocked 20:48 for second overall and victory in the U17 race. A dejected Letsoalo took the third spot in 20:51.
Elsewhere, Lesetja Papo from Tsakane beat a staggered field that consisted of CGA’s elite middle-distance runners like Olympian Ryan Mphahlele, Boikanyo Motlhamme, and Bennett Seloyi to win the open men’s 10km.
The Maxed Elite runner clocked 33:10, with Mphahlele second in 33:24 and Motlhamme third in 33:41.
Indiphile Myeki dominated the U13 boys’ 4km in 15:27, crossing the line ahead of Mamepe Striders’ Bohang Qhoaisa and Njabulo Radebe.
Helpmekaar Kollege’s Sunè-Louise Prinsloo clocked 16:07 to win the U16 girls’ 4km, while Michael Bekker of Hoërskool Kempton Park stormed to victory in the youth men’s 2km.
CGA’s cross-country commission chairperson, Val Brentano, said, “We are extremely proud of the event and how the athletes gave an inspiring performance despite the cold weather.
“We are also grateful to the Daveyton community for the support of our cross-country league. We look forward to seeing the same spirit in the two remaining leagues.”
The next event is in Westonaria on July 12.
For the full league four results, go to https://cgacrosscountry.wixsite.com/home/results.
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