Latest news with #CentralGautengAthletics
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Brakpan runner strives for nationals qualification to honour father
Brakpan resident, Donovan van Zyl started the provincial cross-country season with a blistering run at the Kwa-Thema Stadium earlier this month in his bid to qualify for the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships in Middleburg in September. Van Zyl began the year on the front foot with a victory in the 5km races at the Benoni Northerns Marathon on April 13, followed by an exceptional performance at the MNS Attorneys Carnival City Marathon on May 1. Though the teenager's form, hard work and drive will likely earn him a spot in the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) team for the nationals, he's inspired to do it for his wheelchair-bound father. 'It's a big dream to go to the nationals. My dad inspired me to do this. My coach, Jared de Waal, also helps me a lot,' he said. The Irun Athletics Club athlete's father, Andrè Swart, is a former rugby player who also excelled in athletics. Swart was involved in a car accident that landed him in a wheelchair. 'He was an SA athlete. He was one of the best. He did all athletics except for the long distances. I'm doing this for him.' Asked about his performance in the first CGA Cross Country League meeting on May 3, where he clocked 22:20 in the U17 boys' 6km race, Van Zyl said he was headed in the right direction. While the race gave him a sense of what to expect as the season progressed, he was disappointed with its aftermath. He started at a blistering pace, which affected him at the end because he finished seventh. In the remaining leagues, however, the middle-distance runner will adopt a conservative approach, allowing him to hit his strides in the second half. ALSO READ: Medals and memories shine at SAAFA's 80th anniversary banquet 'The biggest lesson was starting to avoid starting fast. I must ease into the race and go for it once I've assessed my competition and my body is warm. Cross-country is tough. It needs you to strategise,' Van Zyl said. He started running because it 'clears my mind on tough days and puts my head into a good space'. Reflecting on his journey in the sport, he said, 'It's been hard, but I work hard. Coach Jared motivates us to chase our dreams.' Van Zyl's biggest goal is to go to the Olympic Games, but first, he must tackle the easy task of qualifying for his first cross-country nationals. 'I will give it my all in the remaining league.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Munsieville salutes a fallen running hero
Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), in collaboration with the Zithulele Sinqe Foundation, recently held the first leg of the 2025 Zet Sinqe Series Runs at Munsieville. • Also read: Running is fun, Alma Mater proves it According to the communications officer of CGA, Providence Siziba, the objective behind the Zet Sinqe Series was to dedicate and continue the efforts of the late Zithulele Sinqe, who believed that sport has the power to eradicate poverty. Singe was a well-respected long-distance runner who competed in the 1992 Olympic Marathon. He won the Detroit Free Press Marathon in 1998. In his later years, Sinqe also turned his attention to the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon (56km), which he won in 1996 and 1997, as well as coming second in 1998. 'He was a dedicated CGA development coach with the Amateur Athletic Federation and the International Association of Athletics Federations and unearthed talent in many regions such as Kagiso, Bekkersdal, Tshepisong, Munsieville, Toekomsrus, Mohlakeng and Simunye, just to name a few,' Siziba said. The CGA Zet Sinqe Series consists of three development-focused events designed to support and empower emerging clubs and athletes across the province. The event had a 5km run which is open to the entire community and mile races for age categories that included U13, U15, U17, U19 and Open section. For the race walking event, the mile events consist of a U15 and U19 category. Part of the objectives of the series is to use the event to recognise athletic talent and educate communities on how to be active in the sport, participate in the sport and create various opportunities available within the sport. Furthermore, it provides the local development clubs an opportunity to grow their club affiliations and a platform for development coaches to showcase their athletes and be recognised for their efforts. 'The series mainly takes place in townships or previously disadvantaged areas. This is to ensure that those communities are exposed to these events and sports, as there is a lack of facilities and infrastructure to accommodate aspiring athletes who originate from such communities.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Maxime Chaumeton targets SA 5km road record after causing upset on the track
Chaumeton beat Adriaan Wildschutt to win the South African 5 000m title on the track in Potchefstroom. Distance runner Maxime Chaumeton on his way to victory in the 5 000m race at the SA Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images After pulling off the biggest surprise of the SA Athletics Championships, Maxime Chaumeton hoped he could translate his impressive form into a national record next week. In the last individual race at the domestic track and field showpiece in Potchefstroom on Saturday, Chaumeton stunned pre-race favourite Adriaan Wildschutt to win the men's 5 000m title. While Chaumeton has been one of South Africa's top distance runners in recent years, Olympic 10 000m finalist Wildschutt (based in the United States) has been on a record-breaking spree, setting multiple national marks over the 3 000m, 5 000m and 10 000m distances. And after setting a new SA 10km record of 27:28 on the road in Gqeberha two weeks ago, Wildschutt lined up as the firm favourite to retain his 5 000m title at NWU McArthur Stadium. But Chaumeton made his intentions clear when he hit the front and opened a gap in the 12-and-a-half lap race, with Wildschutt ultimately forced to break away from the chase group and reel him in. After taking the lead, Wildschutt was entangled in a bizarre situation in the closing stages of the race when an athlete being lapped wouldn't let him past, first pushing him into the third lane around a bend and then launching a sprint for a lap before withdrawing from the race. Though Wildschutt reacted, sticking with the backmarker, Chaumeton sat back and let it play out before launching a late kick to surge past Wildschutt and charge to victory in 13:44.53, with Wildschutt settling for the silver medal in 13:53.05. The athlete who joined the mix at the end of the race was a provincial teammate of Chaumeton, with both of them competing in the colours of Central Gauteng Athletics, but Chaumeton insisted it had not been a planned tactical decision. He did, however, admit that it had affected the race. Controlling the race Nonetheless, he was pleased his decision to go out hard had worked in his favour, as he controlled most of the contest. 'Adriaan has been racing a lot, and kudos to him because it's extremely hard to do what he's doing, racing overseas, coming back and hitting a 10km record. I've tried it myself and it's very hard,' said Chaumeton, who is coached by former SA 10 000m record holder Hendrick Ramaala. 'So I knew the only way to really cook it was to go to the front and believe in yourself, not let the group come to you and at least secure second position.' Chaumeton said he would now target his own South African 5km record (13:18) on the road at a race in Tokyo on Thursday. 'I have the only record Adriaan doesn't have (over the distances they compete) and I'm trying to extend it a bit longer,' Chaumeton said. 'I would like to run a new national record. I think I can because we're looking good, and it's just about doing it on the day.'
