Northerns’ Magwaza grabs bronze in first cross-country nationals
She clocked 07:47 to finish in third place.
Nolwazi Magazwa was over the moon after grabbing a bronze medal at her maiden Athletics South Africa cross-country championships at Kees Taljaard Stadium in Middelburg on September 6.
The Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) junior runner clocked 07:47 in the U9 girls’ 2km, crossing the line in a photo finish with Athletics Free State’s (AFS) Inge-Mari Hamman, but clinched the bronze by one hundredth of a second.
“The race was tough. The hills were really tiring, but I’m glad I managed to achieve a bronze in my first nationals. I’m over the moon,” she said.
Running barefoot, the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) athlete set the pace in the first half but lost momentum over the rocky terrain in the last kilometre, opening the door for the AFS duo of Amohelang Mokone and Rianza Solette Boshoff.
Mokone ultimately clinched the gold after covering the one lap of the course in 07:42, with Boshoff following in second place three seconds later, while Magazwa outsprinted Hamman to grab the bronze.
“I believe I could have won, but I slowed down on the parts of the course that had rocks. They hurt my underfoot. I’m happy with how it went. Thanks to Coach Nkanyiso Mhembu and God. God carried me through the race today, and my coach prepared me,” said Magazwa.
Other results
Besides Magazwa’s bronze, BNAC’s Chelsea van Dyk clinched the U14 girls’ 4km title.
There were also impressive top-ten performances from Bokamoso Nonyane, Zandrèh van der Merwe, and Siyanda Madlabane.
Nonyane, a silver medallist at last year’s championships, finished fifth in the U11 boys’ 3km race in 10:45, while Van der Merwe was sixth in the U13 boys’ 4km in 13:55.
Madlabane failed to defend his title after finishing eighth in the U14 boys’ 4km, crossing the line in 13:44.
Also Read: Sawyer shines at cross-country champs
Also Read: Benoni runners set the pace at first cross-country league
