If minding his own business were a person, that honour would belong to Benoni Harriers middle-distance athlete Ockert Winter.

Winter, a late bloomer in middle-distance running, joined his teammates as they continued to showcase coach Richard O’Donoghue’s impressive behind-the-scenes work at the fifth CGA cross-country league meeting at Kwa-Thema Stadium on July 4.

He looks a vastly improved athlete from the one who, despite finishing fifth, clocked a pedestrian 25:51 in the season-opening league meeting in Alexandra, where the obstacle-riddled, hilly course tested every muscle in the body.

On the undulating Kwa-Thema Stadium course, which began with a half lap around the stadium before heading east along the grass embankment, looping behind the pavilion and returning to the field for the finish, Winter looked right at home.

Composed and quietly going about his business, while showing a growing understanding of race execution and trusting O’Donoghue’s long-term plan for his development, the teenager produced one of his finest performances of the season in the U17 boys’ 6km.

Rather than getting carried away by the early pace set by the front runners, the Benonian ran a disciplined, measured race, covering the three laps on the grassy terrain in 22:45 to finish sixth.

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Although he was 19 seconds slower than his season’s best of 22:26 but a place higher than his seventh-place finish at the Daveyton league meeting two weeks ago, it is his consistency and growing maturity that are beginning to make the difference.

If these performances are anything to go by, it will not be long before he is regularly challenging for podium positions.

“I’m quite happy with my performance. It’s a good improvement from my first race of the season. In this race, I got out well, conserved my energy and focused on catching one at a time. I believe I’m improving and will have a great season,” he said.

Winter was not the only Benoni Harriers athlete to impress. Jonathan Whitehead continued his steady progress with another encouraging performance, finishing eighth in the U16 boys’ 6km in 22:59. His twin brother Alexander, Gareth Jonas and Liam Hendrikse also produced noteworthy performances.

Roger Hickley showed the youngsters how it is done, clocking 36:01 to secure a well-executed fifth-place finish in the men’s 50-54 veterans race.

Emma Hickley led the women’s charge by winning the U16 girls’ race after covering two laps of the course in 15:40, while Kaitlyn Mackay claimed second place in the U17 girls’ race in 17:23.

The next CGA cross-country league meeting takes place in Westonaria on July 18.

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