Kai Hattingh may not have been among the fastest elite junior women at the ABSA Run Your City Tshwane 10K on August 23, but the Nedbank Running Club athlete had every reason to be encouraged by her performance after an extended spell on the sidelines due to illness.

The Parkrand-based runner clocked a solid 44:30 to finish eighth in a competitive elite junior women’s race, using the event as an important step in her comeback.

Hattingh understands that success does not always mean winning or finishing on the podium and is prepared to put in the work required to return to her best.

“I’m pleased with my performance. I’m happy with the way my team is guiding me. I won’t always win or be on the podium, and today really showed that we have lots of work to do to get back to where we were before I got ill,” Hattingh said immediately after crossing the finish line outside the Union Buildings.

The hilly course tested her resolve, but Hattingh was pleased with the way she responded when the going got tough.

Also Read: Hattingh claims Absa Run Your City 10k junior title

“The downhills were fun and made me strong. I went through a wave of emotions going up the hilly section of the course. I’m delighted that I fought through and managed to finish the race,” she said.

She said her time away from competition had been particularly frustrating after she had begun building momentum in both the ABSA Run Your City Series and SPAR Women’s Challenge.

“It was frustrating because I felt I went back a few steps after months of good progress. I’m happy with today’s performance, but I know I could have done better.”

TUT AC’s Mpho Katiso won the elite junior women’s race in 36:32, with Boxer AC’s Chanel Groenewald second in 37:42 and Hattingh’s Nedbank teammate Megan Waller third in 38:52.

Despite finishing outside the podium places, Hattingh believes the Tshwane race has given her a much-needed confidence boost as she turns her attention to the Joburg leg of the country’s premier 10km series on Heritage Day.

“We will look at the Joburg race next month and hopefully more races afterwards,” said Hattingh.

Other results

Local athletes were among the 10 000 runners that participated in the race, with Bardene distance runner Samantha Coetzer leading the charge with a solid 10th place in the elite women’s race in 36:01.

Coetzer’s Boxer AC teammate, Maria Shai from Daveyton, secured third place in the elite sub-veteran women’s race in 38:39.

Benoni Northerns Athletic Club’s Darren Zabielski clocked 40:23 in the elite veteran men’s race, while young Zane Mostert finished 11th in the elite junior men’s race in 43:27.

Daveyton resident Joy Modiselle of East Athletic Club completed the elite women’s race in 33:08, while Kingsway’s Kabelo Sefali clocked 33:34 in his race.

Also Read: Hattingh opens season with victory