Van Dyk beats Ntanda at Marivate Park

After cutting the tape to win the girls’ U12 3km race during the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) fourth cross-country league meeting at Marivate Park on June 24, Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) junior runner Chelsea van Dyk pointed her index finger upward signalling she’s the athlete to beat at that distance.

Nine seconds behind her came her closest rival, Mmathapelo Ntanda from East Athletic Club (EAC), who immediately put her hands on her knees to recover after her valiant effort to catch up with Van Dyk.

Van Dyk clocked 11:17 to make it two wins out of two, while Ntanda settled for the runner-up spot again.

“It’s always good to have someone you want to beat when you get here,” said Van Dyk. “The route was nice and flat. It was a good race.”

Ntanda has grabbed two wins and two runners-up spots this season and on the occasion where she won, Van Dyk was absent. The story between the two since the start of the season in May has been the same – they have been a cut above the rest.

They again led the race from the gun to the finish, going neck and neck for the first 2km until Van Dyk unleashed one last assault on the home straight, leaving Ntanda with no response.

“I enjoy the competition because it brings out the best in me. The race was rough, but I’m happy that I finished,” Ntanda said.

Ntanda’s coach, Isaac Ndlovu, was pleased with her effort, saying the competition between the two girls was vital for their growth in the sport.

“We’ve known Chelsea since the track and field season last year, where she beat us to the gold medal. We are training Ntanda to understand her competition and the race atmosphere. Very often, when our athletes see their competitors on the line, they lose motivation,” he said.

Ndlovu added their training was paying off because Ntanda stuck with Van Dyk for much of the race until the Rynfield Primary School learner pulled away in the last lap.

While the crowd was still absorbing the ambience created by the girls, they embraced and encouraged each other to keep working hard and improving, a gesture that Van Dyk’s coach, Michael van Aswegen, appreciated.

“It’s so lovely to see the children at this age have healthy competition. It’s good to see them appreciate the work the other puts in. They both understand how hard they have been working. When they step on the line, they know the best will win,” said Van Aswegen.

Van Aswegen said he was pleased with the overall performance of the BNAC, adding that the club was moving in the right direction.

“With the numbers coming into the BNAC at the moment, it’ is creating a footprint on the juniors’ side, which we haven’t had before,” he said.

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