Northerns’ Mokoena maintains good form at cross-country meeting
He finished second in the senior men's 2km race at the fifth CGA cross country league meeting at Westonaria Sports Complex.
Mpumelelo Mokoena produced a sublime performance to finish second in a fast senior men’s 4km race at the fifth CGA cross-country league meeting in Westonaria on July 12.
Competing against a line that included the province’s top distance runners like Sibusiso Msibi and Kabelo Melamu, the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) runner held his own to clock 12:28 for the runner-up spot.
The Daveyton resident was 13 seconds behind winner Melamu of Nedbank and eight seconds ahead of Ivory Park’s Oscar Notshekelwa, who finished third in 12:36.
Mokoena has maintained a low profile despite some consistent performances since the start of the season on May 3.
He started off with fourth place in the senior men’s 2km in 06:35 at the season opener at KwaThema Stadium. He shaved two seconds off that time when he clocked 06:33 for another fourth place in the same race at the league in Daveyton on June 28.
While the competition is tight in the senior men’s 2km and 4km, Mokoena will hope to wrap up the season with another top five performance in the last league meeting in Tsakane on July 26 before attempting to qualify for the ASA cross-country championships in September, at the provincial champs in Germiston, on August 16.
Meanwhile, Matthew Pietroiusti of Irun AC clocked another top three finish when he placed third in 14:52 in the U13 boys’ 4km race, while the BNAC’s Joshua Broughton finished 10th in 15:38.
Jordan Whittington finished fifth in 04:46 in the U8 boys’ 1km.
In other results, Northerns’ Mila Rossouw clocked her first podium of the season when she finished second in 13:58 in the U12 girls’ 3km race.
Rossouw’s teammate, Amy Whittington, completed the U11 girls’ 3km in fourth place in 13:44, while Lesedi Dhladhla of Daveyton Club, East Athletic Club (EAC), finished second in 13:26.
The EAC’s Likhona Kubayi was sixth in the U10 girls 2km. She crossed the line in 08:44 and teammate Azelia Zitha clocked 25:48 in the junior women’s 6km race.
CGA’s cross-country commission chairperson Val Brentano lauded the athletes for making the event a success.
“This league was more than just a competition. It was a display of grit, commitment and the promising future of South African distance running. We commend every athlete who competed and every official who helped make this possible.”
Brentano reminds the athletes to submit their SA ID or birth certificates before the August 11.
Also Read: In Pictures: CGA cross-country league meeting at Marivate Park
Also Read: CGA celebrates athletes for raising the bar at nationals
