The East Athletic Club (EAC) top runner Mahlatse Mamonyane won the Thembisa Mile in the girls’ U10 category.
The race was held at Moses Molelekwa Complex in Thembisa on October 29.
The 10-year-old led the race from the gun to tape as she clocked 05:37 to win the 1.6km event.
The Daveyton resident averaged 3:31 minutes per km as she beat Masai Athletic Club’s Mahlatse Maroga and Trinity AC’s Karabo Sobuza, who were separated by milliseconds after crossing the line in a photo finish 11 seconds after Mamonyane, in a time of 05:48.
Her coach, Isaac Ndlovu said, “She asked me what a street mile is. After explaining it to her, she said she wanted to add a mile medal to the 11 medals she has already won this year.”
A prolific middle-distance runner, Mamonyane is having a sensational year with dominant performances both on the track and cross-country.
She won a gold in the provincial cross-country champs in August after dominating the league meetings from April to August. She added a bronze at the nationals in September in Gqeberha, topping this with a gold medal during the SA Schools cross-country champs in Polokwane, Limpopo last month.
The youngster is also competing in the ongoing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) sub-youth track and field league, where she won the girls’ U11 1 200m event in 04:05 in the second league meeting on October 14.
“She is at peak fitness. She works so hard at training. I’m extremely proud of her achievements. If she continues loving the sport, it will love her back. I only see a good future for her,” said Ndlovu.
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