Cherise on courageous run

A SMALL team of athletes travelled to Potchefstroom last weekend for the South African CrossCountry Championships and generally acquitted themselves well.

Rodwell Sims produced Border’s first medal at this level in a number of years, finishing second in his age group and therefore winning the silver medal. This was only confirmed upon review when another runner finishing ahead of him was deemed to have run short. Sims’ time was a sound 32:08 run at altitude.

Nkosinathi Nzingo ran in the 35+ age category. Running on marathon legs (he was second home at the Tony Viljoen Masters Marathon the previous weekend) the man from Nedbank finished 12th in 27:28.

A top 20 also awaited the long-serving Freeman Vutu of Rising Stars. He came 19th in 50+ with a 33:13 finishing time.

Opportunities offered to young athletes are all important to growing the sport and it was encouraging to see a number of youngsters performing with heart. None more so than Lithobe Menzeleleli of Born 2 Run.

Sims’ daughter Cherise also ran, though in the colours of Eastern Province for the final time. She is expected to turn out for Border in 2018.

Entered in the women’s 10km she started slowly given the altitude and by 3km was visibly advancing through the field.

Lying fourth at 5km Sims junior blacked out and simply fell over.

“I remember coming around and wondering why I was on the ground,” she relates. “I got up and continued running, only to fall over again.”

The same happened again to the South African Steeplechase champion. She ran one more time but became very dizzy and stopped.

Tests showed her blood sugar to be unusually high.

“I could not go home from a South African championship with a DNF (did not finish) next to my name and asked to be allowed to run the women’s 4km event.”

ASA agreed and half an hour before the start a retest showed no unusual readings.

“I felt a bit wary of what I was taking on at the start, but thought even if I have to walk, I will get a finish time,” such was her resolve.

Again Cherise started slowly and in the first 2km was close to last. At 2.5km she started passing runners and by the time the 3km mark was reached she was lying sixth in a field that included many track and field speedsters.

The final kilometre saw her run her heart out, catching the fifth girl with 400m to go. She could see the third-placed woman and gave chase. Her opposition saw her coming and a mad dash for the line ensued.

Sims did not quite make it, but did finish a sound fourth, just two seconds behind the bronze medallist.

The overall Border results were: U8 BOYS 1km Qwenkosi Blom (Rising Stars) – 21 – 3.53 U9 BOYS 2km Alive Bana Stars) – 72 – 8.48 U10 BOYS 2km Lukho Ntsabo (Berlin P/S) – 105 – 8.37 U10 GIRLS 2km Okuhle Zilani (Rising Stars) – 111 – 10.13 U14 BOYS 4km Sisonke del Fava (Hudson Park Higfh) – 41 – 15.02 U16 BOYS 6km Tiny Majambe (ELAC) – 65 – 23.48

Masiluve Madoleni (Port Rex) – 84 – 24.59

M Thokozisi Magaga (Queenstown College) – DNF U19 BOYS 8km Lithobe Menzeleleli (Born 2 Run) – 35 – 28.49 SENIOR MEN 4km Vusumzi Zondo (Oxford Striders) – DNF

MASTERS MEN 35+ 8km

Nkosinathi (Nedbank A/C) 27.28

MASTERS 8km

Freeman Vutu (Rising Stars) – 19 – 33.13

MASTERS MEN 8km

Rodwell Sims (Born Run) – 2 – 32.08 (Rising Nzingo – 12 –

MEN

50+ 55+ 2