Toti athletes shine at SA cross-country champs

A REMINDER to all Amanzimtoti Athletics Club members that on Sunday, 21 September, the club will be using the SAPS Striders Athletics Club heritage challenge as its 21km club champs.

It takes place at the Kings Park Athletics Stadium in Isiah Ntshangase Road, Durban. It is a 6.30am start. Entry fee 21km R70 and 10km R50. You can enter on Saturday, 20 September from 9am until 4pm and on Sunday, 21 September 4.30am until 6.15am.

The club tent will be at the finish line. Join us for a burger and refreshment after the race. All club athletes are to remember to wear their Toti vests, age category tags and black shorts.

The SA cross-country champs took place last week Saturday in George. Toti athletes who completed in the KZN team acquitted themselves with some great results. The competition was tough as the best cross-country athletes from around the country took part, with a strong team from Gauteng and Western Province.

The weather on the morning was cool and the rest of the day was sunny, with ideal running conditions. The course was in one of the local schools, run on grass undulating with a few bumps.

Toti results at the SA champs are: The 2014 cross-country season concluded on Saturday, 13 September with the ASA cross-country championship held at George. KZN did well in this extremely competitive and probably one of the toughest event on the Athletics South Africa’s championship calendar. The KZN team brought home 29 medals, 11 individual medals and 18 team medals (seven gold; 12 silver and 10 bronze).

Amanzimtoti Athletics Club salutes the athletes who took part in this tough event. In particular, we congratulate Toti AC athletes, who kept the Toti flag flying high, in particular those who were among the medal winners: Gold medal: Eighth Devilliers Oberholzer (men 60) 27.27.5.

Silver medal: Second Noel Saville (individual men 70) 30.54.4, 10th Ron Sayer (men 65) 30.09.8.

Bronze medal: 20th Robert Gcaba (men 30) 28.45.7, 15th Jolanda Broodryk (women 50) 20.15.3.

A special accolade to Robert Gcaba who was entered in the men’s 45 age group category and was at the last minute included in the men’s 30-years age group, to make up the required team of four and managed 20th position overall (out of 28, 30-year-olds) thus securing the bronze medal for this much younger age group. Well done Robert.

Reminder that Amanzimtoti walkers have entered a team for the Cansa Relay for Life on 20 and 21 September. This is the second relay for life event which will be held at the Kingsway High School, you can call Andrea Kretzman form Toti AC if you would like to enter.

To make the capturing easier of time trial results on a Wednesday, we have gone back to introducing club members, make sure you memorize your club number. Congratulations to Tyrone Castle for his 100th and Andrea Oliver for his 1,100th time trial badge.

Club captain, Chris Stange will be starting a morning training group to meet at Warner Beach senior campus school at 5am and Saturday morning long runs from Lords and Legends at 5am, starting from 1 October. The aim of the Saturday long run is for those athletes that have commitments on Sunday.

To make use of the Saturday to complete a long run, we will now be building towards qualifying for Comrades, by running a qualifying marathon in January or February, Hillcrest or Postnet marathons.

Manual cash entries for the Goss and Blake South Coast marathon will be taken at the SAPS Striders race on Sunday, 21 September for the athletes who are unable to enter online. Kevin from event timing will be doing the manual entries. Reminder that online entries close on 9 October.

Juniors meet for track and field training at Lords at 4.45pm, Mondays to Fridays, call Riaan on 078-457-1936. Senior strength training is at Lords at 5pm on Tuesdays. Call Cecil on 079-895-4323.

Time trails for 8km and 4km are on a Wednesday at Lords 6pm. There is an 11km run at 6am on Saturdays.

Walkers train on Mondays and Tuesdays at 4.30pm and Wednesdays at 5.30pm and Thursdays at 4.30pm.

For more information visit www.totiac.co.za. If you are a club member or plan to join the club, meet Cecil Clarke for training and advice about Comrades and ultra-marathons. He has a training group and anyone wishing to join is welcome to do so.

The helpers run will be on 11 October, from Lords and Legends at 5am. We need help with seconding on this day. Give your name to Chris on 083-301-3632 if you are interested in running as this run can be used as a Comrades qualifier, club vest must be worn.