The Hockey Farm came alive with the thundering sound of footsteps and the spirit of determination as the 2023 Athletics Mpumalanga Cross Country League kicked off. The event, open to athletes as young as 8 years old, proved to be a celebration of passion, endurance, and the pursuit of dreams.

Against the backdrop of picturesque trails and open fields, runners displayed impressive talent and determination on Saturday, July 29. The cross-country course tested their endurance and skill, challenging them to push their limits and go the extra mile.

Athletes in various age categories took to the challenging cross-country course, weaving through uneven terrain and overcoming natural obstacles that tested their endurance and resolve.

In the junior divisions, young athletes from Nkangala District displayed incredible potential and promise, setting the pace for their competitors. Their remarkable performances left spectators in awe, hinting at a bright future for cross-country running in the region.

As the senior divisions took centre stage, the athletes from Nkangala District continued to leave an indelible mark on the championship. Seasoned runners demonstrated their experience and training, navigating the course with precision and speed. Their tenacity in the face of stiff competition cemented Nkangala District’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the athletic world.

See the results below: 

Girls U8

Alrie deVvos 04:59 (Taalfees), Hilda Thupana 05:19 (Taalfees), Amu Mhlongo 05:32 (NAA), Mea-Mae Smit 05:50 (Kanonkop) and Mdaloenhle Hlatwayo 06:03 (NAA).

Boys U8

Christiaan van Rooyen 04:28 (Cambridge), Tshepang Mphirime 04:44 (Curro), Matthew Strydom 04:44 (Rooies), IMINATHI MABASO 04:47 (NAA), Kijan van der Merwe 04:51 (Taalfees), Bonkosi Mthombeni 04:55 (NAA), Luca Botha 04:56 (L/s Middelburg), Jean-Claude Masson (Taalfees), Luke Cullen 05:03 (L/s Middelburg), Melokuhle 05:10 (Highveld Pumas), Manqoba Mahlangu 05:32 (NAA), BOKANG MABASO 05:48 (NAA), Ewan Pelser 05:55 (CR Swart) and Awanda Ngena 06:04 (Highveld Pumas).

Girls U9

Oratile Thupana 09:30 (Taalfees), Amo Kgaile 09:35 (NAA), Zilne Nieuwoudt 09:55 (RWFL) and Mila Koch 14:26 (Curro).

Boys U9

Snethemba Mdlalose 09:02 (NAA), Keagan Walker 09:04 (Klipfontein), Ruben Botha 09:24 (L/s Middelburg), Rhylan de Villiers 09:27 (Taalfees). Prince Phogole 09:38 (Taalfees), Quintus Roos 09:43 (RWFL), Danté Rossouw 09:52 (Taalfees), Janu Moolman 10:24 (Taalfees), Matthew Viljoen 10:37 (Taalfees) and Christiaan Herbst 14:32 (Curro).

Girls U10

Anke de Vos 09:49 (Taalfees), Thanduyise Motha 10:39 (NAA), Danelle Greyvenstein 10:46, (Balmoral) Lea Labuschagne 11:07 (CR Swart).

Boys U10

MC van den Heever 08:42 (Balmoral), Jordan Viljoen 08:53 (Taalfees), Mphirime Tokelo 08:58 (Curro), Kevin Ellis 09:05 (Klipfontein), Caleb Cullen 09:07 (L/s Middelburg), Lihan Pelser 09:27 (CR Swart), Atlegang Phala 09:40 (Rooies), Prince Mahlangu 09:53 (Rooies), Ruben Moolman 10:36 (Taalfees), Zander Swart 12:21 (CR Swart), Danie van Rooyen 14:18 (Highveld Pumas) and Shane Roos 14:23 (Highveld Pumas).

Girls 11

Tianey Smit 14:53 (Klipfontein), Richelle Burger 15:03 (Kragbron), Naledi Tsoene 14:56 (Cambridge, Ladéne Roos 17:35 (RWFL), Mia Johnstone 19:14 (CR Swart), Abigail van der Merwe 20:38, Sarika Dawson (Highveld Pumas).

Boys 11

Thato Kgomo 13:13 (Sasol), Frans van den Heever 14:54 (Taalfees), Lefa Mampa 14:58 (Kragbron), Bohlare Mabaso 15:06 (NAA), Ashton Brown 19:27 (Rooies) and Logan Mclean 21:08 (Kanonkop).

Girls 12

Zuzokuhle Mlambo 14:16 (Sasol, Kiana Visagie 15:06 (Taalfees), Mieke du Plessis 15:42 (L/s Middelburg), Andza Mkhari 16:02 (Curro), Snegugu Nkosi 16:21 (Sasol), Princess Bikandou 16:25 (Cambridge), Mieke Knoesen 16:39 (CR Swart), Lica Jordaan 16:49 (RWFL), Carli Jordaan 17:23 (RWFL), Melissa Roos 18:12 (Highveld Pumas), Naledi Maloma 21:02 (Highveld Pumas), Catelyn Venter 22:01 (Highveld Pumas), Busisiwe Ndala 22:17 (Highveld Pumas), Nlahlatse Maseema (Highveld Pumas).

Boys 12

Jabulane Naale 12:34 (Sasol), Theto Phala 12:54 (Rooies), Johrné Pretorius 12:55 (Taalfees), Keagan van der Walt 13:05 (Taalfees), Andries van Wyngaard 13:29 (Bergland), Koos Msiza 13:34 (Kragbron), Vian Vewrreynne13:36 (Taalfees), Owethu Skosana 14:22 (Sasol), Wade Strydom 14:32 (Rooies), Nkosingiphile Mokoena 14:34 (KwaGuqa), Caleb Brown 15:28 (Rooies), CJ Dawson 22:18 (CR Swart).

Girls 13

Banetsi Motha 15:31 (NAA), Tamilee Morris 16:35 (Klipfontein), Christelle Greyvenstein 16:42 (Balmoral), Abigail Rogers 17:01 (Balmoral), Mbalenhle Thabana 18:48 (Curro), Jaidene Horn 21:09 (CR Swart), Danisha Henning 22:18 (CR Swart).

Boys 13

Lwazi Nkabine 16:56 (Sasol), Lwazi Nhleko 17:58 (KwaGuqa), Sbonele Ngwenya 18:39 (KwaGuqa), Thabang Mabaso 20:34 (NAA).

Girls 14

Kaglego Sesing 18:47 (NAA), Anike Uys 20:27 (Rooies), Kayla Ellis 21:30 (HGH), Charne Coetsee 21:39 (Rooies), Xolisile Masango (NNA), Lerato Mokoena (Patriot), Elizabeth van den Heever (HTS Witbank, Eunice Thupana (HGH).

Boys 14

Pietr-Schalk van den Heever 19:56 (HTS Witbank), Joshua Strydom 20:22 (Rooies), Sifundo Sangweni 20:39 (Sasol), Jayté Knoesen 21:28 (H/s Middelburg) and Mikhail de Lange 21:55 (Highveld Pumas).

Girls 15

Duhané Walker 19:58 (HGH), Tshepang Tshesane 22:47 (KwaGuqa), Ibenathi Mabaso 24:40 (Steelcrest), Snokuhle Makhaba 24:49 (Steelcrest), Lynda Takilt 29:28 (Steelcrest), Sade Mabunda 33:30 (Patriot), Busisiwe Skosana 38:41 (Steelcrest).

Boys 15

Mondli Matshiana 16:41 (NAA), Sbusiso Mabaso 17:14 (NAA), Mogau Maloma 19:30 (NAA), Luan Viljoen 19:48 (Rooies) and Jabulane Masangu 22:15 (Patriot).

Girls 16

Petra Wassenaar 22:03 (Rooies), Danieke Uys 22:08 (Rooies), Mpho Ditshego 23:31 (Sasol), Tshegofatso Mokou 32:40 (Patriot), Mogau Petla 36:14 (Steelcrest) and Tebogo Tshehla 37:54 (Patriot).

Boys 16

Tiaan van Eeden 25:10 (HTS Witbank), Pule Mabaso 25:41 (NAA), John-D Hessell 27:51 (HTS Witbank), Sbusiso Sithole 32:19 (Patriot) and Stephan Vereynne 35:11 (HTS Witbank).

Girls 17

Lené van der Merwe 21:46 (HTS Witbank).

Boys 17

Ruben Steenkamp 27:37 (Rooies).

Junior women 

Kayla Coetzee 29:47 (Rooies) and Nicky Thompson 36:30 (Highveld Pumas).

Junior men

Lucky Tsotetsi 32:11 (NAA), Rivhawe Netshitungulu 39:46 (Rooies), Rickus Meiring 41:56 (LTG), Ruduan Roux (HTS Witbank).