Strong start for Zanele Maisa with 800m win at Germiston
Senior women’s athlete Zanele Maisa opened her season on a high, clocking a solid 2:08 to secure victory in the 800m at the first Central Gauteng Athletics meeting of the year.
Zanele Maisa continued her dominance into the new sporting calendar with an impressive victory in the senior women’s 800m event.
Representing Waterfall Athletics Club, the 29-year-old clocked a strong time of 2:08 to claim her first win of the season as the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) calendar officially got underway at the Germiston stadium.
Speaking to GCN after the race, Maisa expressed her excitement at opening the season on a winning note.
She credited her success to hard work, determination, and her coach’s guidance.
ALSO READ: Young Germiston runner shines at CGA Cross Country Championships
“My coach told me to run the event confidently. Track and field requires speed, so we focused a lot on that in training,” said Maisa.
“My goal was to finish in 2:10, but I managed to shave off a few seconds.”
Although she impressed in the 800m, Maisa is primarily a 10km specialist. In January, she represented South Africa at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, her first international competition.
“That experience was a big learning curve for me,” she said.
“I learned that consistency in training is key if you want to achieve your goals.
”Maisa is now preparing for another major challenge as she heads to Kenya next month to compete in the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country, a World Athletics Gold-level event. The prestigious race is regarded as one of Kenya’s most important cross-country competitions, attracting top global athletes while also developing young running talent.
ALSO READ: Top athletes shine at final CGA cross-country league
“The plan is to finish on the podium,” she said.
“With the experience I gained in the USA, I feel confident. I would also like to improve on my time of 37 minutes.”
Maisa boasts an impressive athletics résumé. This year alone, she has competed in the senior women’s 10km event at the World Cross Country Championships, following her entry into the Absa Run Your City 10km, CGA Cross Country Championships (where she finished second), ASA Championships, cross-country trials, and the Curro Hazeldean Street Mile throughout last year.
