Distance runners Andries Sesedi and Glenrose Xaba will turn out in defence of their titles, but they will have to be at their best against quality line-ups at the 2023 ASA 10km Championships in Mbombela on Saturday, 4 November. Xaba will hope to close out a memorable season which has already seen her secure the SA titles over 10 000m on the track and 21.1km on the road.
She leads a strong team from Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) in the women's race which also features Carmie Prinsloo, who earned the silver medal in the senior 10km race at the ASA Cross Country Championships in Gqeberha last month.
In-form athlete Cacisile Sosibo, who finished 10th in the half-marathon at the recent World Road Running Championships in Latvia, will also be among the medal contenders. She will line up alongside Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) teammates Diana-Lebo and Lebogang Phalula who are twins.
The field also includes KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) star Jenet Mbhele, a former national marathon champion. In the men's race, Sesedi's strongest opposition is likely to come from his CGA teammates. Central Gauteng athletes will be looking to dominate the tussle for the SA 10km crown. He will be joined by national record holder Precious Mashele, who was part of the half-marathon team that secured the silver medal at the World Road Running Championships earlier this month.
They will also be up against SA 5km champion Nicholas Seoposengwe, who grabbed silver behind Sesedi in last year's race.
“We are looking forward to a good race and good weather on the day to produce great performances,” said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. “And when national titles are at stake, it is always competitive, and I think we can expect a tight finish in both female and male races.
“An unknow commentator once said that ‘tough runs don’t last but tough runners do. Run the first two-thirds of the race with your head and the last third with your heart’.
“Brazilian legend Pele once said ‘success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing’. We therefore wish everyone a wonderful day on Saturday.”
Comments