Parys Athletes shine at Cross Country National Championship
Athletics Free State achieved a third position in the overall team competition with six gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 15 bronze medals. Athletics Gauteng North finished in first place, followed by Central Gauteng Athletics in second position.
Athletes lined up for a very challenging course with many sharp turns and rather aggressive changes in elevation at the ASA Cross Country Running National Championship held on September 6 in Middelburg, Mphumanga. The National Championship is the highlight on the Cross Country running calendar and also the highest level of competition that an athlete can achieve on a national level.
A total of 17 provinces were represented this year with Athletics Free State having entered the second largest team of 632 athletes across all age groups.
In addition to the expected challenges on the course, athletes also had to overcome the effects of high altitude, strong winds, and the above-average temperatures that are synonymous with the Highveld climate during this time of the season.
Athletes from Parys that represented the Free State this year included Kordieu Scheepers (Parys Primary), Mirka Ferreira (Parys Primary), Bernard Theunissen (Parys Primary), Anlè Beukes (Parys Primary), Kylie Rootman (Parys Primary), Gerhard Snyman (Parys Multisport), Bongani Mabe (Parys Multisport), Karliese Scheepers (Parys Primary), Lebohang Mokoetli (Ntshwephepa Primary School), Jessie Joubert (Parys Primary), Nuri Rourke (Parys High School), Nadia Bell (Parys High School), Paul de Klerk (Parys Multisport), Zunaid Mc Cloen (Schonkenville Intermediate School), Dylon van Schalkwyk (Schonkenville Intermediate School), Le-Ray Koen (Parys Multisport), Innocent Mofokeng (Parys Multisport), Annemi Beukes (Parys Multisport), Neels Koorzen (Parys Multisport), Christo Noeth (Parys Multisport), Carina Noeth (Parys Multisport), Francois Olivier (Parys Multisport), Ilona van Heerden (Parys Multisport), Salomé Snyman (Parys Multisport), Stefan Blunden (Parys Multisport), Joalane Msibi (Parys Multisport), Roné Hattingh (Parys Multisport) and Anna-Marie Ferreira (Parys Multisport).
Anna-Marie Ferreira was the only athlete from Parys who achieved a podium position in the individual competition.
She finished third (bronze medal) out of 14 athletes in the W70-4km category – only one minute behind the winner, Jane Dickson from the KwaZulu-Natal province.
