Kabelo Mulaudzi and Zanele Maisa were utterly dominant as they stormed to victory in the men’s and women’s 4km races at the fifth CGA cross country league meeting at Kwa-Thema Stadium on July 4.

The event, hosted by Waterfall City AC, saw hundreds of the province’s middle-distance runners, from eight-year-olds to seniors, compete in races ranging from 1km to 10km as they continued their build-up to the CGA Championships next month.

Mulaudzi, a three-time national champion, “burnt his chest” on his way to victory in the men’s race in his last run before this weekend’s ABSA Run Your City Durban 10k, where he will face Ugandan 5 000m and 10 000m world record holder Joshua Cheptegei.

The Boxer AC standout was aggressive from the outset, leading a chasing bunch consisting of Comrades Marathon Wally Hayward medallist Gladwin Mzazi, Nhlanhla Mnothoza of UJ and Brakpan resident Cayde de Waal.

He was well ahead of the chasing pack after the opening lap and eventually clinched the line honours after covering two laps of the course in 12:09, as he dragged three men under 13 minutes.

Mzazi, who bided his time in the pack, waited until the final km before launching his attack as he finished 44 seconds behind Mulaudzi in 12:53, while Mnothoza completed the podium in 12:55.

A week after storming to the Doek on Fleek – She Moves SA 10km title, Maisa showed no signs of strain as she put foot to pedal to dominate the women’s race from the gun.

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The Waterfall City AC athlete, who represented SA at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in the US in January, flew around the 2km circuit unchallenged and eventually covered the two laps in 14:54.

Runner-up Selinah Madeila was 01:41 off the pace after crossing the line in 16:34, with Thembelihle Busanello third in 16:57.

In other races, Waterfall’s Tharollo Maja obliterated the men’s field in the combined youth, junior and senior men’s 2km to win in 06:04. Tiisetso Sebata of Ekhaya AC was second 13 seconds adrift, while Nicholas Whittaker of UJ completed the top three five seconds behind Sebata.

In the women’s race, Gugulethu Sibanda clocked 07:20 for victory, while Agatha Makhobolo crossed the line in 07:38 to complete an Absa Running Club top two. Wilme Victor of Hoërskool Monument finished third two seconds behind Makhobolo.

Bennet Seloyi and Mamepe Striders’ Kedibone Mohwang closed off the programme with victories in the senior men’s and women’s 10km.

Seloyi clocked 31:35 for his victory, beating Prince Madume (32:09) and Lefa Kwanele (32:19, while Mohwang won the women’s race in 41:02, ahead of Andile Manzi (41:57) and Dinah Sithole (43:17).

The next league meeting is in Westonaria on July 18.

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