Young Gauteng runner wins national cross country title
"Her win inspires other athletes in the team already; I saw a shift of focus in training on Monday when we returned from Mpumalanga."
Young Realeboga Sefala dominated the ASA Cross Country Championships, winning her second national gold medal in the 1km girls’ 8-year-old category with a time of 03:51.
Affiliated with Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), the province congratulated her on her impressive win.
Sefala’s coach, Zakhele Gumede of United Stars, praised her consistency and dedication. He noted that coaching young athletes like Sefala can be challenging due to their age, but with focus and discipline, they can achieve great things.
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Sefala’s win has already inspired her teammates, and Gumede credited her success to her discipline, consistent training, and parental support.
Her achievements extend beyond this win, having also triumphed in various leagues, district championships, and track and field events.
Gumede expressed gratitude to Sefala’s parents for their unwavering support and acknowledged the club’s ongoing search for sponsors.
According to her coach, “Last year she competed in track and field events and won gold at the 60m events, which was her first national gold medal. Her win inspires other athletes in the team already; I saw a shift of focus in training on Monday when we returned from Mpumalanga.”
Gumede shared their journey, stating, “We started training together last year, and she has progressed significantly in her training and performance.”
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Sefala’s achievements extend beyond this win, with Gumede highlighting, “The Primrose Primary School pupil has also won all her leagues and gold at the district championships during school events.”
As a club, Gumede expressed their gratitude and needs, saying, “We are still looking for sponsors, and we give thanks to the parents who have been with us since day one. We have been a registered club since 2020 and are affiliated with CGA.”
With Gumede’s guidance as a level 1 qualified coach, Sefala’s future in athletics indeed looks bright.
