Emma Hickley and Kaitlyn Mackay will fly the Benoni Harriers’ flag when they represent Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) at the ASA Cross Country Championships at Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria East on Saturday.

The pair will be among a host of Benoni middle-distance runners representing CGA at the national showpiece, which promises to deliver a fiercely contested day of championship racing.

Hickley goes into the championships in fine form after an outstanding provincial season, with her consistency during the league phase rewarded with a silver medal at the CGA Championships on August 15.

The Benoni Harriers middle-distance sensation produced a season’s best 14:58 in the U16 girls’ 4km to secure her place on the podium and book her ticket to nationals.

Saturday’s championship will mark Hickley’s third consecutive appearance at the national event, and she has set her sights on improving on her 13th-place finish at last year’s championships in Middelburg.

Also Read: Mackay sets sights on national championships

A top-10 finish is now firmly in her sights.

Mackay, meanwhile, will return to the national stage for the first time since competing at the 2024 championships in Vanderbijlpark.

Her return is the culmination of a season built on consistency, determination and hard work.

Speaking to the paper in June, the Farrarmere teenager identified national qualification as one of her main goals for the season and vowed to put in the work required to achieve it.

“My goal is to qualify for the nationals. I know I have to put in a lot of hard work and perform consistently to get there. I’m prepared to put in the effort to make both the schools and club national teams,” said Mackay.

She has delivered on that ambition and will now line up against some of the country’s best U17 runners in the 4km.

Although Mackay faces stiff competition in her age group, she is no stranger to the intensity of national-level racing and will be determined to make the most of an opportunity earned through perseverance during a testing season.

Also Read: From heartbreak to silver: Hickley lands first provincial podium