Engela Jansen van Vuuren received a huge round of applause from her support team after claiming a podium finish in her cross-country debut at the fifth CGA league meeting at Kwa-Thema Stadium on July 4.

Jansen van Vuuren spearheaded the Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) challenge with an outstanding performance to finish second overall in the combined U9 and U10 girls’ 2km race.

Competing alongside the boys, the race got off to a blistering start, with Adriano Jooste of Reiger Park AC setting the early pace while Benoni Northerns’ Nolwazi Magwaza quickly took charge of the girls’ contest.

As Magwaza battled among the leading boys, Jansen van Vuuren comfortably established herself as the clear second-placed girl. Rather than looking over her shoulder, she set her sights on the boys ahead, producing a powerful finishing kick to cross the line 10th overall and second in her category in 8:24, just 30 seconds behind Magwaza.

“It was fun but very hard,” she said.

“The course went up and down and had many sharp corners and challenging obstacles. But I feel fine. I’m not tired at all.”

Jansen van Vuuren said she started running three years ago after being inspired by her father, who also competed in cross country as a youngster.

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“My dad did it. He told me to try it, and I thought it could be a good thing. I tried it, and I’ve enjoyed it ever since,” she said.

Other results

Jordan Williams produced another impressive run to finish second in the U8 boys’ 1km race in 4:19, just one second behind Ubuhle AC’s Inam Qingama.

“It was a nice race. I’m happy with my performance,” he said.

Klarike Brockman and Elani Ferreira also delivered encouraging performances, finishing inside the top 20 in the U13 girls’ 3km and U10 girls’ 2km races, respectively.

Adrian Venter impressed in the U14 boys’ 4km race, while Charlotte Venter claimed third place in the veteran women (40-44) 4km in an even 16:00.

Deane Ferreira finished eighth in the U16 girls’ 6km, while Comrades Marathon silver medallist Isaac Mokgola ran a composed race to place seventh in the veteran men (40-49) 8km in 31:17. Jeremy Hartzenberg rounded out the top 10 in the same race in 31:39.

Veteran campaigner Zacharia Mokgola placed fifth in the grandmaster men (60+) race, clocking 27:58.

The athletes will continue their preparations for the CGA cross country championships at the sixth league meeting in Westonaria on July 18.

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