Kabelo set to shine on home turf

Local top athletes are once again expected to shine during the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Cross- Country League 6 event to be held at the Westonaria Sports Complex on Saturday 2 July.

After conquering the Southern Region Championships in Lusaka, Zambia on 17 June, Kabelo Melamu is expected to continue his good run of form in the men’s 4km race.

In Zambia, Kabelo was victorious in both the 5 000m and 10 000m track events against athletes in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, which includes Botswana, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

In the 5 000m he crossed the finish line in a time of 14 minutes and 59 seconds, and in the 10 000m event his time was 31 minutes and 12 seconds.

Motlatsi Sesing, Kabelo’s coach said, “We are preparing for the World Champs to be held on 19 July in Poland. Cross-country provides us with an opportunity to gauge Kabelo’s preparedness for the World Champs. For the cross-country, the plan is to go with the pack first and break away when it matters most in the second lap.

“The emphasis is to build up his speed,” he added.

The senior women’s 10km event is expected to be a cat fight between two local girls Keneiloe Sesing from KMPG and Cornelia Joubert from Boxer Club. Lorraine Novhela from Benoni High Athletics Club is also in the mix.

Other local athletes to be watched are Vuyo Rayi and Bokang Mabote (in the boys under 10 and 11 category) from the Boabab Athletics Club in Mohlakeng, twin brothers Tumelo and Thebe Mabote (also from Baobab in the U/8 category), and Joseph Mabodla from the Mohlakeng Colossus Athletics Club who, in the past leagues, has been doing well in the masters category.