Van Dyk wins gold at nationals
This was a massive improvement for the 12-year-old as she moved up eight places from last year’s disappointing ninth place finish. She also sliced off a gigantic 1:05 from her nationals time after completing last year’s race in 11:54.
Benoni Northerns Athletics Club (BNAC) top runner Chelsea van Dyk caused a major upset when she beat last year’s ASA cross-country championship girls U12 3km race winner, Xante Harris, to win a gold medal at the Nelson Mandela University sports grounds in Gqeberha on September 16.
She outsprinted Harris on the final stretch, unseating the Athletics Vaal Triangle athlete who has been dominant in this division for years.
Van Dyk passed the exhausted Harris, who led for much of the race, on the final corner and unleashed one last push to win in 10:49, becoming a national champion.
This was a massive improvement for the 12-year-old who moved up eight places from last year’s disappointing ninth-place finish.
She also sliced off a gigantic 1:05 from her nationals’ time after completing last year’s race in 11:54, which Harris won in a time of 11:26.
“It was a great race and great run from Chelsea. She went out and did what she had planned to do,” said coach Michael van Aswegen.
“We walked through the route on Friday and identified the few areas where she could be more aggressive and where she could conserve energy.”
Van Aswegen hailed Van Dyk for sticking to the game plan as, even when she slipped to fourth mid-race, she remained composed knowing the tough part of the route was coming.
“She knew they would go in early and that the tough part was coming. She stuck with them and then made her move.
“Coming into the last kilometre, she sliced eight seconds off the lead. No one expected her to close the gap but she believed she could. Once she believes she can catch you, she will catch you,” he said.
The coach hailed Harris, who had been dominant in this age group for years, for a great race but said it was phenomenal to see Van Dyk beat her.
“It was amazing to see. When she came into the last kilometre in the lead, we were all excited. We were happy for her.”
Van Dyk’s teammate, Siyanda Madlabane, grabbed a silver medal in the boys U12 3km, clocking 10:09 for second place.
Kate van Jaarsveld was fourth in the sub-veteran women’s 4km race.
The East Athletic Club coach Isaac Ndlovu said he was satisfied with the performance of his athletes after Mahlatse Mamonyane ended in third place in a tightly contested girls U10 2km race.
Mamonyane crossed the line in 07:34, two seconds behind teammate Minkie Scholtz and seven behind winner Anika Botha from Athletics Gauteng North.
The club’s Mmathapelo Ntanga finished the girls’ U12 3km in ninth position while Azelia Zitha was 14th in the girls’ U16 4km event.
“I’m okay. The performance was okay. The athletes are gaining experience. At nationals, we know it’s a war. Overall, I’m satisfied,” he said.
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