Central Gauteng Athletics hosted Provincial 21km Championships which were incorporated with Township Marathon race hosted by Brotherhood Athletics Club this past Sunday, 30 April 2023.
The race was well supported by athletes from various clubs who came out in numbers to participate in different distances on offer at the race. The spotlight was on the provincial championships race (21km) with a hope of having quality field to select to represent the province at National Championships at the beginning of June 2023.
The open men race saw great competition among CGA’s elite athletes with 2023 National Marathon Champion Simon Sibeko of Boxer Athletics Club dominating the men race to claim the 1st position in the time 1:05:54, Kabelo Melamu of Murray and Roberts claimed the second position in the time 1:06:32 and with just four seconds difference from second position was Lesetja Papo of Maxed Elite clocking 1:06:36 to secure the bronze position.
In the open women race, Boxer Athletics Club’s Lebo Phalula claimed the 1st position in the time 1:19:45 and in second position was Mapaseka Makhanya of Diepkloof Athletics Club in the time of 1:21:52. The Bronze medal position went to Christina Silale clocking 1:31:18, Silale who also represented the Province earlier this year at the National Marathon Championships in Durban is looking to double up if selected to represent the province at the National Half Marathon Championships 2023.
The final provincial team for the National Half Marathon Championships which will be held on the 4 June 2023 in Gqeberha will be announced in due time.