A young athlete from Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong did very well at the National Cross-Country Championships over the weekend.

Nthabiseng Nteka (16), a Grade 11 learner, qualified for the event after brilliant performances at various smaller competitions. This year’s SASA (SA Schools Athletics) Nationals took place in Kimberley from September 27 to 29.

Nthabiseng finished 11th in the girls U16 4km event. There were 40 athletes who competed in the race. Her achievement also helped the Gauteng team to obtain the silver medal.

Nthabiseng’s educator and coach, Khumbulani Khoarai, told the Herald that Nthabiseng is an excellent athlete who started to excel during the past two years.

“She comes from a very supportive family, but her mother is a single parent. Nthabiseng specialises in track and field as well as cross-country. She started taking athletics more seriously last year after I saw that she had potential. Her physique and height are very advantageous,” says Khoarai.

Last year Nthabiseng won the girls 1 500m and 3 000m events at the Merafong Cluster, but failed to qualify for the provincial team due to lack of experience.

“After that we went back to gym preparing for the cross-country season, which is where she made a name for herself. She took second at the district championships, and later finished fourth at the Gauteng Cross-Country Championship. Nthabiseng took 10th place at the National Schools Cross-Country Championships in Polokwane last year,” says Khoarai.

Nthabiseng was also part of the Gauteng team that won the gold medal at last year’s Nationals.