EAC coach praises athletes after season opener
“We ran well in Thokoza. Most of our athletes finished in the top 10.”
The East Athletic Club (EAC) coach, Isaac Ndlovu, raved about Mahlatse Mamonyane’s performance at the first meeting of the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) cross-country season in Thokoza on May 6.
“We are lucky to have someone like her,” Ndlovu said.
Mamonyane finished second in the girls’ U10 2km event after clocking 08:01 on the rough terrain of the Sam Ntuli Stadium.
It wasn’t the silver medal that impressed Ndlovu but how the youngster ran her race and stuck to the team’s game plan.
“She knows her story. You couldn’t tell that she didn’t have proper training and running shoes.”
Nokuthula Thobani, Mmathapelo Ntanga and Avuma Pheza also earned podium positions in their categories, while the rest of the club’s contingent finished in the top 10.
Ndlovu was impressed with his team’s efforts but emphasised they had not yet reached peak fitness.
“We’ll start peaking around July towards the provincial championships. We ran well in Thokoza. Most of our athletes finished in the top 10. However, we are not yet at peak fitness,” he said.
The coach said their strategy was to have their elite athletes at peak fitness at the right time so they were at their best for the provincial championships in August in Kagiso.
“It’s dangerous to be super-fit now because, by August, the athletes will either be tired or injured. We are building up towards the provincials, so the July meetings in Westonaria and Delta Park would test our readiness for the provincials.”
Ndlovu urged his young guns to push for top five positions starting this weekend (May 20) in Tsakane.
Northerns to push for top positions
The Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC)’s Chelsea van Dyk started the season with a brilliant performance after winning the U12 girls’ 3km event in 11:28.
Van Dyk’s teammates Oliver Mcgalpine, Nadia Myburg, Jesse Mcgalpine and Lea Klingenberg earned podium finishes in their categories.
Their coach, Michael van Aswegen, said he expected more of the same from his group this weekend.
“The junior team had a fantastic start to the season. As the junior structure grows, I’m sure we will see more young talent come through the ranks.
“This weekend, a slightly smaller contingent is going through to Tsakane as we try to space out and manage the racing this season. We still aim to go to Tsakane and keep up our performances from the previous week,” he said.
Van Aswegen said he would send a smaller contingent to Tsakane as he tries to manage their racing this season.
The second meeting of the CGA cross-country is in Tsakane on May 20.
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