Cross Country runners at the top of their game
New course records and outstanding athletic performances bear witness to the high-performance standard and broad support of the 2023 AFS Fezile Dabi Cross Country Running Championship's League.
The AFS Fezile Dabi Cross Country Running Championship League offers a series of six meetings on one of the most authentic cross-country running courses in South Africa. Over 15 schools and athletics clubs have entered this year. The AFS Fezile Dabi Cross Country Running League reached the halfway mark with numerous new course records, and we can expect the best is yet to come.
New course records to date for the 2023 Fezile Dabi League include the 3 km boys’ record set by Marinus Rademan (11:13) from Vaalpark Primary School, the 3 km girls’ record set by Nuri Rourke (12:19) from Parys Primary School, the 4 km men’s record by Madibo Jabulani (12:45) from Sasolburg AC, and the 6 km course record set by Hanné Hayes (26:41) in the colours of Parys High School.
Marinus Rademan first appeared on the Fezile Dabi cross-country running scene in 2022 and represented the Free State Pro-vince at national championships, where he finished 40th in a field of 118 competitors. He is back this year and proving to be a force to be reckoned with as he continues on a streak of setting new records league after league.
Nuri Rourke entered the 2023 season as the 3-km course record holder. Caprivi Layla De Beer from Vaalpark Primary made a powerful opening statement when she broke the record at the first league earlier this year. Nuri returned to league two on 20 May and reclaimed her title as the 3-km course record holder.
Hanné Hayes is a familiar face on the cross-country running course and represented the Free State province at the 2022 national championships, where she finished 25th in a field of 68 competitors.
This year, she will compete in the 6 km Junior Women division and started her season by setting a new Fezile Dabi 6 km women’s course record. Hanné trains under coach Annie Marais, also participating in the league this year. With both athlete and coach delivering record-breaking performances, they may very well both be at the nationals in the Free State colours this year.
Madibo Jabulane first entered the Fezile Dabi league in 2022 and tried out both the 4 km and 10 km distances. Madibo still holds the 10-km course record of 33:10 he set in 2022.
This year, he competes in the cross country 4-km men’s u.23 division. He will also make his appearance at the first ASA 5-km road running national championships at Nasrec, Johannesburg on 17 June 2023.
The AFS Fezile Dabi Cross Country Running League is presented by Parys Multisport Club according to the rules and regulations of World Athletics, Athletics South Africa, and Athletics Free State. The league is open to all provinces, clubs and schools affiliated with ASA. Visit www.fezdxc.co.za for entries and more information.
