Cross Country action at Westonaria
Local long distance runner, Sibusiso Nzima and fellow Bidvest runner Namakwa Nkgaswe had the crowds going at the recent Cross Country League event hald at the Westonaria Sports Stadium.
Nzima, who was expected to take things easy in light of his upcoming bid for the world championships title and Lesotho born Nkgaswe led the race from the starting gun and seemed to be enjoying a bit of friendly rivalry.
With neither athlete able to break away, the race came down to who had enough stamina to keep up the pace over the gruelling 12km course.
With the fans supporting their favourites to the end and even the race announcer getting very excited, the race turned into a fully fledged fight to the end with both runners intent on finding a way to upstage the other.
The race was finally decided just a few metres from the finish line with Nkgashe surprising Nzima with a strong sprint to the finish, leaving Randfontein’s world championship hopefull to settle for second place.
“The intent was not really to compete,” said Nzime after the race.
“The race was merely to be part of my training and preparation for the world championships, but with my home crowd cheering me on at the top of their voices and even the announcer egging me on, I got carried away and decided to give them a show.”
Another local hero, Butiki Jantjies, was not so unfortunate and managed to take the win in the 4km veteran’s event.
Jantjies looked set to lose after an unfortunate incident during the second lap, but managed to claw his way back to the front and claim his title with a time of 25 minutes.
“It was a challenging course,” says Jantjies.
“There were lots of twists and turns and I ended up running in the wrong direction, which almost cost me the race.
“Luckily I realised my error soon enough and I was able to regain lost ground.”
Jantjies adds that he is intent on winning the upcoming Gauteng Challenge from Krugersdorp to Johannesburg on 8 September.
Randfontein’s top female long distance and cross country running star, Cornelia Joubert also seems to be coming into her own and easily dominated the women’s category on the day, managing a convincing victory over her teammate and main rival Nolene Conrad in a time of 28:33.
Joubert, fresh from winning the recent Vasbyt Challenge in Pretoria and also with her eyes on the prize at the upcoming world championships, says that she is in the best condition of her life and ready to take on the world.
Before then though, she will be showing her steel at the Total Sports Challenge on 9 August and the Spar Ladies race on 25 August.
