Tjaoana grabs bronze at nationals

Tsakani resident Pule Tjaoana fought relentlessly for a top three position in the veteran men’s (40-44) 8km during the SA cross-country championships on September 7.

Tjaoana, representing CGA, beat the dry and windy conditions to finish the race in third place after tearing through the four-lap course in 25:00 for the bronze, becoming Kwatsaduza’s only individual medalist at the event.

His CGA teammate, Jonas Makhele, clocked 24:20 to grab the national title and Renier Grobler of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) crossed the line 28 seconds after Makhele for the silver.

Tjaoana and Makhele, together with Vincent Seng and Tsakane AC’s Themba Miya, landed CGA a team gold medal in this category. Seng finished the race sixth in 25:30 while Miya was fifth in 25:15.

In the senior women’s 4km race, Zanele Maisa of Mamepe Striders finished seventh after coasting through two laps of the course in 14:35.

Karabo Mailula of AGN tore through the race to win the gold in a quick-fire 13:12 for the gold. Maisa ran a well-measured race and with her performance, she, along with Johannah Sethowa, Sisanda Dumisa and Samantha Coetzer, helped CGA secure the team gold.

In other results, Moeletsi Moletsane of Tsakane AC finished the sub-veteran men’s 8km 15th in a time of 25:42 while Joel Nkadimeng Molamo was sixth in the same race, albeit in the veterans 45-49 category, after crossing the line in 26:07.

Mamepe’s Thabiso Mokgatla clocked 12:56 to finish 12th in the U15 boys’ 4km. With his teammates, race winner Tyran Brooks, Sipho Mollo, who was sixth and 10th placed Siyanda Malone, they clinched the team gold for CGA.

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Zanele Mzizi of the Langaville Athletics and Fitness Academy (LAFA) was 13th in the U13 girls’ 3km after clocking 10:58, while her club teammates Banele Mkhehle and Thoko Ndlovu finished 18th and 22nd, respectively, in the categories.

The Ramatladi twins, Palesa and Pabalelo, completed the senior women’s 2km race 16th and 24th. Palesa was the first one at the finish after crossing the line at 08:18, while Pabalelo finished the race at 09:21.

Ntando Mokoka of Tsakane AC finished the tough U17 boys’ 6km in 34th position after completing the three laps of the course in 19:54.

These athletes were part of CGA’s team of 395 runners to represent the province at the event at Izak Steyl Stadium in Vanderbijlpark. The event, held by Athletics Vaal Triangle, attracted over 4 100 runners from across the country.

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