CGA runners kick into gear in second league meeting

It was another successful day for local athletes at the second meeting of the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Sub-Youth Track and Field League meeting at Germiston Stadium on October 14.

The young runners stepped up from their performances in the first league meeting last month with a strong showing as they took another step to qualify for the Sub-Youth Inter-Provincial Championships in December.

In the sprint events, the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC)’s Heike Duvenage led the charge when she won the girls’ U11 80m dash in 11:20, while Nqobile Banda from East Athletic Club (EAC) was third in the same event.

Both Duvenage and Banda finished second and third, respectively, in the 100m. The Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) sprinter, Anzaret Strauss, was fourth in the girls’ U13 200m dash.

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The middle-distance events saw the BNAC’s superstars, Chelsea van Dyk and Siyanda Madlabane, back in action after missing the first league meeting. Van Dyk was fifth in the girls’ U13 1500m, while Madlabane finished seventh in the boys’ race.

The EAC’s Thato Sesoko made it two out of two in the girls’ U13 800m after the youngster breasted the tape in 2:22 for her win, slicing four seconds from her season’s best in the event.

Mahlatse Mamonyane, from the EAC, won the girls’ U11 1 200m in 04:05, while teammate Mmathapelo Ntanga was fourth in the girls’ U13 1 500m.

In the hurdles, the BAC’s Nika Weideman was second in the girl’s U11 70m, while her teammate, Duvenage, was third. The club’s Dian van Schalkwyk also podiumed in the boys’ U11 70m race.

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The BAC had a good day on the field, with several athletes clinching podium positions.

Lanelda Herbst won the girls’ U11 shot put, throwing 10.73m for the gold medal, while Megan Cuhna was second with a throw of 09.70m. Amore Steyn clinched the gold medal in the girls’ U13 event, while Zijan Otto was second in the boys’ category.

Otto went on to win the boys’ U13 discus with a throw of 23.42m. Strauss was third in the girls’ U13 long jump, while Kevin du Plessis and Kian Gelderblom were third and fourth, respectively, in the boys’ U13 event.

Alexis Nel jumped 1.45m to finish in third place in the girls’ U13 high jump, while Ryan Pienaar finished third in the boys’ category.

Tatum Coetzer won the girls’ U11 turbo-javelin with a throw of 15.15m

The CGA also used the event to select the race walking team to represent the province in the Inter-Provincial Race Walking Championships on October 21 in Pretoria.

BAC walker Carl Meyer won the men’s aged 65 5km event in 28:41:60 to earn selection in the team going to the inter-provincials.

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“This event was aimed at selecting a team to participate in the upcoming inter-provincials.

“The walkers, in their respective club colours, were in great form and looked ready to represent the province,” said CGA track and field chairperson, Maggie Dicks.