A week after narrowly missing out on a podium finish at the ASA Mile Championships in Gqeberha, Thabiso Jiyane bounced back in emphatic fashion with a storming victory at the fifth Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) cross-country league meeting at Kwa-Thema Stadium on July 4.

Jiyane returned from Gqeberha with mixed emotions after being pipped on the finishing straight in the combined U11 to U13 boys’ mile race, clocking 5:17 to finish three seconds behind Gauteng North’s bronze medallist, Cameron Campbell.

“I was upset because I didn’t make the podium. I found the mile too quick because I lack speed. My biggest lesson was that I have to finish off my race because the guy who finished third passed me on the straight,” said Jiyane.

The Mamepe Striders middle-distance standout wasted little time putting that disappointment behind him, producing one of his finest performances of the season to dominate the U13 boys’ 4km race.

After a composed opening lap in which he allowed his rivals to dictate the early pace, Jiyane executed his race plan to perfection, unleashing a devastating finishing kick in the second half to claim victory in a season’s best 14:30 for his third consecutive league win.

The victory improved on his previous winning times of 14:41 at the Daveyton league meeting and 15:09 at the third league meeting in Dobsonville.

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“The race was tough. I faced lots of challenges, but I embraced them and let my feet do the talking. My coach told me not to rush, to allow my rivals to do the bulk of the work on the opening lap and only attack in the second half.”

The talented youngster now has his sights set on challenging for the provincial title at the CGA Championships in August before targeting a top-five finish at the ASA Cross Country Championships in Pretoria in September.

The black and gold colours of Mamepe Striders were prominent throughout the day on the undulating course at Kwa-Thema Stadium.

In selected results, Hlulani Mafuyeka won the U17 boys’ 6km race in 20:16, while Lefa Kwanele and Kedibone Mohwang also claimed victories in their respective events.

Nqobile Maseko triumphed in the U23 women’s 4km race in 17:32, while Njabulo Radebe and Tshegofatso Adams finished second in the U14 boys’ 4km and U11 girls’ 3km races respectively.

Dinah Sithole, Lehlohonolo Mabe and Siphamandla Nkosi completed the podium in their events, finishing third in the senior women’s 10km, U15 boys’ 4km and U11 boys’ 3km respectively.

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