Local athletes make strides at Central Gauteng Athletics

Gladwin Mzazi and his wife, Lebo Phalula-Mzazi, won the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) 10km championship at Willowmoore Park on January 28.

The event, incorporated into the Johnson Crane Hire Marathon 10km race, pitted the province’s best athletes against each other in an attempt to crack the nod for the CGA team for the Motsepe Foundation Athletics South Africa (ASA) 10km champs on March 10.

Qualifying criteria

According to CGA, for men to qualify, the juniors were required to finish the race under 34 minutes, seniors inside 31 minutes and veterans (40-49) under 34 minutes.

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The masters (50-59) had to finish in 38 minutes and the grandmasters (60-69) under 40 minutes.

For the women, the juniors had to complete the race under 40 minutes, seniors inside 38 minutes and veterans under 42 minutes.

The masters had to finish in 44 minutes and grandmasters inside 52 minutes.

The men’s open race was closely contested and was won on the final stretch where the top three dug deep to secure their positions.

Seconds separate men’s top two

Mzazi cut the tape in 30:25, running at an average of 3:03mins/km to win the race.

The veteran Boxer runner actually crossed the line in second place but was elevated into the first spot after UJ speedster, Chris Mhlanga was disqualified due to race number issues.

Andries Sesedi, from Nedbank RC, finished six seconds behind Mzazi in 30:31 for the silver medal and Maxed Elite top runner Bennett Seloyi, from Tembisa, rounded-up the podium after crossing the line in 30:48.

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Phalula twins dominate

The women’s race saw Phalula-Mzazi finish comfortably ahead of her twin sister Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli.

Running at 03:34mins/km, Phalula-Mzazi crossed the line in 35:33 and Phalula-Luthuli sped through the home straight 01:18 after her sister for the silver medal. Cornelia Joubert completed the top three in 37:05.

In the junior category, Fitness For Africa (FFA) youngster Prince Khelemithi clocked 33:18 for the first place. He was followed by Nedbank runner Keagan Botha in 33:42 while Boxer’s Lwazi Mkansi crossed the line in 34:34.

In the junior women’s race, Boxer duo Corlize Stoltz and Kiona Robinson claimed the top two spots, with Stoltz winning the race in a time of 38:47. Robinson was second in 39:57.

Other results:

Veterans (40-49)

Men

• Rirhandzu Rhangani – 32:20

• Omo Hlungwane – 34:21

• Samuel Bolo – 37:11

Women

• Lebo Phalula-Mzazi – 35:33

• Lebogang Phalula-Luthuli – 36:51

• Helen van Rooyen – 39:29

Masters (50-59)

Men

• George Mooi – 36:31

• Warren Ralph – 37:40

• Tshidiso Khoele – 38:22

Women

• Elizabeth Potter – 41:45

• Thuli Mbatha – 43:08

Grandmasters (60-69)

Men

• Gideon Mbatha – 40:30

• Tony Silva – 40:53

Women

• Karen Brough – 49:22