Hattingh and Coetzer off to Bloemfontein for nationals
They are part of a 37-athlete squad selected by CGA to compete in the national showpiece.
Local middle-distance runners Kai Hattingh and Samantha Coetzer have been selected to represent Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) 10km championships at Central Media Park in Bloemfontein on November 15.
Hattingh, a junior runner in her first year running the 10km, and Coetzer, an experienced campaigner who clinched a bronze for CGA at the ASA Half-Marathon Championships in Phalaborwa in July, are part of a 37-athlete squad announced by the federation on October 28.
Hattingh, who finished second in the junior women’s race in the provincial 10km champs, which were incorporated into the Thembisa Mile on October 26, is among six junior female runners and will contest her first nationals in the distance.
The 14-year-old Nedbank Running Club athlete said the sacrifices she made this year have paid handsomely.
“From a solid cross-country season to starting my venture into the 10km, I’m grateful. All the hard work, sacrifices and weekends away were worth it. I want to thank CGA for this opportunity, my team and sponsors for their relentless support,” she said.
Also Read: Coetzer and Ntholeng on top at Tommy Malone Memorial Race
Coetzer boasts a 36:55 personal milestone from the Absa Run Your City Joburg 10K on September 24 when she finished sixth. She is one of only two females in the senior women’s team.
She won the CGA champs on October 26, after clocking 37:05 for the provincial title and sixth place overall in the Thembisa Mile women’s 10km.
It’s undoubtedly been a good year for the Bardene resident, especially after breaking the 37-minute barrier for the first time on Heritage Day in the 10km and establishing herself as one of CGA’s reliable senior female runners alongside Cacisile Sosibo and Zanele Maisa.
When the 29-year-old, who won the Tommy Malone Memorial Race on October 19, toes the line in Bloemfontein, she will also look to improve on her 14th place from last year’s champs in Johannesburg, when she clocked 38:58.
Also Read: Hattingh secures her first podium finish at Absa Run Your City
