Coetzer elated with third place at half marathon national champs

Samantha Coetzer reaffirmed her status as one of South Africa’s rising distance running talents with a gutsy performance at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) half-marathon championships in Phalaborwa on July 26.

Representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), Coetzer battled tough competition to claim a commendable third place, crossing the line in 01:22:25 behind Glenrose Xaba, who won in a new course record of 01:10:03.

CGA top runner Cacisile Sosibo clocked 01:15:14 for the silver.

“This is the greatest achievement of my career so far. No words can describe how I am feeling now. It feels like I have conquered the world,” Coetzer said.

The Nedbank Running Club athlete’s podium not only highlights her consistency over the 21.1km but also signals her growing presence among the country’s elite road runners.

“It also shows me that the training is going in the right direction, and my dream of becoming a pro runner is starting to come true. Now it’s time to train and work harder.”

Reflecting on the event, which formed part of the F21 half-marathon, Coetzer, from Bardene, said the 13:30 start in the sweltering Phalaborwa heat made it especially challenging.

“Who came up with the idea of hosting a race in the middle of the day?” she asked.

“My biggest challenge was adjusting from the cold Gauteng winter to the Phalaborwa heat. Luckily, we had water tables every 1.5km, which was a lifesaver.

“This was the most humbling race I’ve run so far this year. I started quite fast, hitting my paces as I wanted to run another PB. But the last kilometre before the finish was mentally challenging. At that stage, I just wanted to finish, rather than compete.

“As I entered the finishing straight, the crowd went insane and was cheering me on. That motivated me to finish strong. I didn’t run a PB, but I was happy to finish.”

She crossed the line seventh overall in the women’s race. Unaware she had placed in the ASA champs, she began packing. Her whole mood changed when the announcer summoned her to the podium.

“I couldn’t believe it. When they called our names again, that’s when it began to sink in. I was super excited. It felt like the world was standing still. I felt like a champion,” said Coetzer.

The runner expressed that her hard work and unwavering dedication to training were finally paying off, with recent performances reflecting the effort she poured into her journey.

“Although at times I feel I need to train harder and add more to my daily routine, especially when I want to run a PB, it is paying off. Consistency, discipline and sticking to my programme have been key to my performances.”

Coetzer now turns her focus to the CGA cross-country championships on August 16.

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