Mpumelelo Mokoena struggled to hide his smile as he stood atop the podium after the biggest achievement of his running career at the CGA cross-country championships on August 15.

Standing proudly in the yellow, red and white of Benoni Northerns, the Daveyton runner tried to conceal his delight until the magnitude of his achievement dawned on him as CGA athletes’ commission chairperson Tiyani Khoza placed the gold medal around his neck.

Flanked by runner-up Philimon Thingane, third-placed Mokaedi Pheko, Fernando Macavele and Kabelo Melamu, Mokoena’s shy demeanour soon gave way to a broad smile after years of hard work at Marivate Park finally paid off.

The Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) distance runner reached his pinnacle when he was declared the senior men’s 10km provincial champion after five gruelling laps of the 2km course at Germiston Soccer Club.

“It’s my first podium at a CGA championship. It means a lot. It feels awesome,” he said.

Awesome, however, hardly captures the importance of Mokoena’s victory. Despite a consistent league campaign that produced top-10 finishes in all three events he contested, few would have picked the dreadlocked runner as a potential champion.

The script appeared set for another familiar finish, particularly with Pheko enjoying an impressive season in the absence of some of the province’s perennial winners. But Mokoena had other ideas.

In a tactical, fast-paced race, Pheko initially led a front bunch that included Thingane, Macavele and Chris Mhlanga, with Bennet Seloyi and Thabang Makgatho following closely behind.

Mokoena, meanwhile, started conservatively at the back before gradually working his way through the field.

Also Read: Northerns’ Mokoena reigns supreme at Springs Striders Race

By the second lap, the leading group had been reduced to Mhlanga, Macavele and Seloyi. When Mhlanga and Seloyi injected more pace in the third lap, Macavele began to lose ground, while Mokoena’s back-to-front strategy continued to pay dividends.

He picked off runner after runner and eventually moved into contention.

Mhlanga outsprinted Seloyi on the finishing straight, while Mokoena crossed the line in third after earlier dropping Macavele, Pheko and Thingane in a lifetime best 31:33.

However, Mhlanga and Seloyi had not completed the required number of league races, making Mokoena the official provincial champion. Thingane (31:45) finished second, with Pheko (31:50) third.

“The race was tactical and challenging. I told myself to start slow and go with the flow until the finish. I’m very happy because I managed to finish in the top 10 in all the leagues I participated in. So, to cap it with the title means the world to me,” said Mokoena.

Reflecting on his campaign, Mokoena revealed that finding the right shoes nearly derailed his season. Once that problem was resolved, his training and performances improved.

“At the start, I didn’t have the right shoes. I managed to get the shoes I wanted and my training and performances improved. This showed that I can stick with the best.”

His next challenge is the ASA cross-country championships in Pretoria on September 5.

“I will do my best because I know the field is going to consist of runners who will be fighting for their provinces,” he said.

Also Read: Mokoena powers to victory at Daveyton Street Mile