Sims one for all seasons in her push to reach the top
BORDER’S top cross-country runner, Cherise Sims recently won the Southern Region African Championships in Mauritius.
Running in SA colours for the first time the win, together with Sims having placed third at the SA trials in Bloemfontein last month made for the perfect start to her year.
Sims, has not only produced great results, but she has proved to be a nuggety fighter in any conditions: hot, cold, wet, dry, humid, at altitude or at her native sea level.
Sims was originally left out of the SA team to the African Championship, but was later selected for the Mauritius fixture following an appeal by her club, Born 2 Run, East London and supported by Border Athletics. It was said she should prove herself again.
Speaking on her return to East London on Monday, Sims said that for her to don the green and gold of South Africa was the realisation of a longtime dream. “It felt so good and when I stood on that podium and they played the South African anthem I felt so proud .... it was so cool.”
Having many young children asking for photographs with her was yet another uplifting experience. Despite her fantastic form Sims unfortunately has not been picked for the coming African Championships to be held in Algeria in two weeks’ time.
This was confirmed by the chairman of the ASA Cross-Country Commission to Border president, Daan Louw earlier this week, that Sims is not in the team for Algeria, though “she is in the training squad for the World championships”.
Louw, when asked for comment, said that he shares the disappointment felt by Sims, her family and the running community.
Sims however certainly made a statement as she thrived on her debut for SA in Mauritius, and despite very trying conditions, spoke enthusiastically of the experience and the travelling contingent from South Africa.
The 10km course was to her mind “one of, perhaps the toughest” she has ever run.
It was a seven-lap course run through long grass and a tough 150m hill on each lap, with many 90º sharp turns to break a stride.
The night before the event torrential rain fell and the hill in particular, was pure mud. “I tried to take a different line each time, but nothing made it any easier to negotiate. It was just so very slippery.”
Naturally this meant slower times than would have otherwise been the case and the very reason why qualifying times do not work for crosscountry. Every course and most often conditions vary widely.
Added to that was the midday start in the middle of an African summer heatwave and high humidity.
By way of example all the SA junior men were between 1:51 and 1:03 slower than their ASA trials selection race over 8km, while the junior women were also slower by between 1:20 and 2:07 over 6km. A win is a win and Sims feels elated with her performance, winning in a time of 39:40, over the tough 10km. Next up for the East London flyer will be the EP Track and Field Champs this weekend. — DDC