Local runners geared up for provincials

After a long season where athletes crisscrossed central Gauteng to take part in the six Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) cross-country league meetings, the campaign comes to a conclusion with the provincial championships on Saturday at the Kagiso Sports Complex in Krugersdorp.

This season involved lots of travelling, but the local runners outdid themselves with dazzling performances in the junior divisions.

While the elite juniors like Chelsea van Dyk, Mmathapelo Ntanda and Kaitlyn MacKay and Siyanda Madlabane, will battle for the top four spots to qualify for the national cross-country championship in September, it was a breakthrough season for the McGalpine brothers, Jesse and Oliver, Khaya Madonsela and eight-year-old Alexia Visser.

According to Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) juniors coach Michael van Aswegen, this season showed the depth of talent in the district, which he described as ‘extremely strong’.

“We have some of the best primary schools in Gauteng. The big high schools in the country come here to scout athletes. What we are doing at the primary school level is phenomenal,” he said.

Van Aswegen said the BNAC would send around 25 runners, with 18 coming from his group and the rest from coaches Sonja Ferreira and Nkanyiso Mthembu.

“We have a good contingent of runners going to the provincials. There are high expectations for Chelsea and Jade Doran.”

The coach believes the top four criteria set by CGA will be tough to meet, but said he has athletes in his group capable of competing for those spots.

“We understand where CGA’s thinking is with this criterion but have runners in the group who can meet it.

“Last season, we had a good solid group. We had ambition. We told the athletes to give it their best shot.

“We have learnt and have grown. We came back this year and competed. We have gone from a group of only five competitive athletes to 18 runners that can compete for a medal and qualify for the nationals,” said Van Aswegen.

The East Athletic Club (EAC) coaches Isaac Ndlovu and Victor Ratseane will be sweating over the fitness of Thato Sesoko, who struggled with minor injuries this season. With Mahlatse Mamonyane and Mmathapelo Ntanda in peak fitness, the club is confident of podium positions for the duo.

“The competition was tight, but the children competed. We had many runners finishing in the top five in the league meetings. We are happy with their performances.

“This season was slightly tough for the club because we had matriculants in our group. They had to find a balance between their books and training.

“We will send 10 runners to the provincials. We are sure about a gold medal from Mahlatse and a silver from Mmathapelo,” said Ndlovu.

The Benoni High Athletic Club will have top runners like Emma Hickley, Matthew Mackay and Cameron de Meyer expected to compete.

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