Springs Striders youngsters ready for SA’s first Champions League Cross Country
Local young stars including national champions will compete at Curro Serengeti as 2 500 athletes are expected to take part in the inaugural event.
The young athletes of Springs Striders will proudly represent their community at South Africa’s first Champions League Cross Country event on April 12 at Curro Serengeti.
Champions League Sports, in association with some of South Africa’s top middle-distance coaches, has launched the country’s first franchise-based cross-country festival.
Launching in Gauteng, the festival aims to unite South Africa’s cross-country and broader athletics community through a dynamic, franchise-based festival hosted over five weekends.
The initiative creates a platform where athletes, coaches and parents can interact, support one another and participate in what is set to become the country’s next premier cross country event.
Among the Springs Striders youngsters set to participate are multiple national cross-country champion Chelsea van Dyk, who holds six national cross-country titles, and Franna van der Westhuizen, the 2025 ASA U12 cross-country champion.
“Local talent to keep an eye on includes Megan-Ann Roberts, who qualified for Multiple National Championships in 2025, as well as international Laser Run athletes, Donovan van Zyl and Dian Barnard,” the club’s secretary, Charmaine Botha.
She said the club’s participation will not only help young runners grow skills and confidence, but also help local clubs grow.
“It’s more than just a race; it’s a development platform for multiple events, coaching support and team competition.
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“By exposing more athletes to cross country as a sport, it helps clubs like ours grow the number of young athletes,” she said.
She added that as the athletics season comes to a close, some of their athletes have already entered, while more are still expected to.
“We already have hundreds of entries across age groups from U7 to U19, including many Springs Striders athletes. The vision is to see 2 500 athletes attend the Trials Day on April 12,” said Botha.
She concluded that the club hopes young athletes will be scouted and selected for franchise teams, where they can be coached by experienced coaches and gain exposure to higher-level competition.
