Randfontein athletes compete in the provincial cross country championships
The CGA provincial championships proved to be a huge success in Kagiso recently. This is how Randfonteiners fared ...
Mohlakeng’s Phemelo Ntoe was one of many locals to put up a good show at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Cross Country Championships held in tough and unfriendly, windy conditions in Kagiso recently.
Phemelo who runs for the University of Johannesburg gave everything in the men’s 4km event but it wasn’t enough as Ryan Mphahlele took the title from Marko Bucarizza who dominated this event throughout the season. Ryan won in a time of 11 minutes and 38 seconds, with Marko finishing just nine seconds later.
Phemelo’s training partners Kabelo Melamu and Andries Sesedi under the wing of coach Motlatsi Sesing, also put up a spirited performance in the men’s 10km event which had all the ingredients of a cracker.
The Mohlakeng-based duo looked set to cause an upset in the early stages of the race but Nicholas Seoposengwe from Boxer Athletics Club proved his class and romped home in a time of 30 minutes and 13 seconds. He was subsequently crowned the 2021 CGA Cross Country 10km champion. Kabelo from Murray & Roberts was second in a time of 30 minutes and 21 seconds, followed by Andries Mohlakeng from Colossus Club in third place in a time of 30 minutes and 41 seconds.
“We ran according to plan but conditions were very dusty and windy. I believe we are, however, on track to where we want to be in terms of preparation for the upcoming SA Champs,” said Kabelo.
In the women’s 4km event, another local athlete Cornelia Joubert had to be satisfied with a sixth place overall and time of 15 minutes and six seconds.
It was a bad day at the office for another local who went all out very early in the race. The UJ duo of Cian Oldknow and Michelle van der Merwe proved to be tough competition and too good on the day, with Cian winning the event in a time of 13 minutes and 56 seconds. Michelle finished the race.
Despite not reaching the podium, Cornelia still stands a chance to be in the team to compete at the SA Cross Country Championships to be held in KwaZulu-Natal.
