Coetzer chuffed after qualifying for national half marathon champs

Bardene middle-distance runner Samantha Coetzer is still on cloud nine after qualifying for the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Half Marathon Championships in Phalaborwa, on July 26.

Coetzer finished second behind winner Lebo Phalula-Mzazi at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Half Marathon, 5km and Mile Championships, held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec on June 14.

“I’m super excited and grateful I’ve qualified. It will always be a privilege running for CGA and to compete alongside international-level athletes. Nationals always push me beyond my limits and help me to find inner strength when it gets tough,” she said.

Representing the Nedbank Running Club, Coetzer completed the race in 01:21:27 after three 7km loops. She finished 03:30 behind veteran Phalula-Mzazi, who broke the tape in 01:17:57. Boxer AC’s Cornelia Joubert rounded off the top three in 01:24:09.

Reflecting on the race, Coetzer said she gave it her all, despite a tough second half after a relatively smooth start.

“The race consisted of 7km loops. The first half was quite easy, but the second half was challenging as we had to run slightly uphill back to Nasrec. I didn’t really have a strategy—I felt strong at the pace I was running. My only plan was to qualify for nationals, and with the level of competition on the day, I knew I had to run my heart out,” she said.

The national championships will form part of the F21 Half Marathon at the Foskor Community Centre in Namagale, starting at 13:30. While the heat and humidity are expected to pose challenges, Coetzer is aiming for a top-10 finish.

“I’ll be racing against some very strong and competitive athletes, so the goal is to finish inside the top 10,” she said.

With the event falling in the middle of the cross-country season, Coetzer remains focused. She is also working toward qualifying to represent CGA at the national cross-country championships in Middelburg this September, where she plans to compete in the 4km race.

In addition, Coetzer will be trying her hand at the 10km, which ASA will use as a trial event to select athletes for next year’s World Athletics Cross Country Championships in the USA.

“I’m going to race in the last few provincial leagues. I want to try out the 10km and also work on improving my 4km performance,” she said.

“ASA is selecting athletes for the cross-country world champs. If I’m strong in the 10km during the leagues, then I’ll aim to qualify for nationals.”

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