Seven runners from the Brakpan-based iRun Athletic Club represented their team at the ASA National Cross Country Championships at Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria over the weekend.

The prestigious national championships brought together some of South Africa’s finest young cross country athletes, providing the iRun contingent with an opportunity to compete against the best in the country and gain valuable experience at the highest level of school-age cross country competition.

Head coach Jared de Waal said that despite challenging conditions, including cold temperatures and strong winds, the seven athletes showed determination, resilience, and commitment as they battled a demanding course, national-level opposition, and the mental and physical challenges of competing on a major stage.

For iRun Athletic Club, the results were about far more than finishing positions. Each athlete walked away having gained valuable experience that will contribute to their continued athletic development.

Competing at national level provides young athletes with an opportunity to measure themselves against the country’s best, identify areas for improvement and develop the confidence required to progress to the next level.

Megan-Ann Roberts led the way for the club, producing an outstanding performance to finish eighth in the U13 girls race. Her performance was further rewarded with a team gold medal, highlighting her contribution to the provincial team.

The remaining iRun athletes also delivered determined performances across their respective age categories: Melany Mans finished 23rd in the U14 girls race, Caleb Roberts finished 26th in the U13 boys race, Matthew Pietroiusti finished 30th in the U14 boys race, Mikayla Mans finished 36th in the U12 girls race, Dieter van Eeden finished 59th in the U11 boys race, and Malakai Smuts finished 83rd in the U11 boys race.

While not every race unfolded exactly as the athletes may have hoped, each performance represents another important step in their development.

National championships are as much about learning and gaining experience as they are about results, and the lessons learned from competing under pressure against South Africa’s best will serve these young athletes well in future competitions.

De Waal congratulated all seven athletes on their performances, emphasising the importance of taking pride in the effort invested rather than focusing solely on finishing positions.

The club believes that true athletic development is a long-term process, built through consistent training, competition, resilience and the willingness to learn from every experience.

For these seven young athletes, the national championships provided another valuable chapter in that journey, and one that they can carry forward with pride as they continue to pursue their athletic goals.

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