Bronwyn Nel wins in seventh meeting

Bronwyn Nel felt like she needed a climbing kit on the slog up the sharp hill that leads to the Germiston City Sports Club soccer fields during the seventh CGA cross-country league meeting on July 20.

The Benoni High Athletic Club (BHAC) athlete had to go up and down that hill three times in the junior women’s 6km race. She felt the climb sap the energy out of her on each occasion, and the mostly quick and flat yet challenging course didn’t make it any easier for her.

“It’s a flat course and was pretty fast. The one hill was terrible. It felt like you needed a climbing kit. But in the end, it was nice,” she said.

She ended up clinching the race when she crossed the line in 22:22.

“The wind also played a huge role. It was against us most of the time. Overall, it was a good race, and I’m happy with what I got.”

Nel has performed well this season and has several podium places under her belt. But the goal is to win a medal at the provincials and qualify for the national championships in Vanderbijlpark on September 7.

“We are trying to build to see how I can approach the provincials. For all the races I’ve done, we had different approaches to see how I would do and which one would work. If I keep performing how I did today, I think I’ll medal at the provincials,” Nel said.

“The main goal is the nationals. Everything we are doing now is in preparation for the national champs so I can perform to the best of my ability.”

Despite finding the U15 girls’ 4km race challenging, Emma Hickley, who played a hockey match before her event, persevered to finish sixth in 15:30.

“I did well but can do better. I had a good race despite playing hockey in the morning. I felt good after the first lap. In the second, I was a bit tired, especially in the last 1km,” said Hickley.

She said her goal is to be in the top 15 in the province.

Hickley’s BHAC teammate, Kaitlyn Mackay, would like to qualify for the cross-country nationals for both clubs and schools for the first time.

She recently finished fifth overall and third in her category in the first schools’ cross-country league meeting at Höerskool Han Moore before another decent performance in Germiston.

“I did my best to run and see where I finish. The course was hard, but I did my best. My season has been good. I have never raced at nationals for cross-country, so I hope to make it this time,” she said.

The Germiston league will be followed by the last league meeting in Delta Park, Randburg, on August 3, before the conclusion of the CGA season with the provincial championships in Kagiso on August 17.

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