Enthralling varsity champs

All those involved hailed the event as a great success

Intense racing through the afternoon was the hallmark of a successful Universities Cross Country Championships held on the campus of Walter Sisulu University at the weekend.

The crowd was treated to a 12km for the men, 10km for women and 4km for both men and women – followed by relay races the morning after on the East London esplanade.

Ten runners finished in 15minutes or less with a tight race up front between Pretoria's Carina Swiegers and Marne Mentz from the University of Free State in the women’s 4km race.

Swiegers won the two lap race in 14:11 from Mentz in 14:13 and University of Johannesburg’s Liza Kellerman third in 14:17.

Hlumisa Bukani of WSU was the best of locals, finishing 21st in 16:35.

The men's equivalent saw a large field of 91 charged up athletes take the gun a race to the narrow gate exit from the main fields, with much cross country style nudging to gain advantage.

A close race ensued, but on the latter stages of the second lap Rantso Mokopane of North West University broke the mould and sped to an impressive five second win over his varsity team mate Puseletso Mofokeng, who was in turn seven seconds ahead of UJ's Henry Makane. The winning time an impressive 11:29.

The top local, WSU's Kuhle Malongwane could hold his head up high finishing 19th in 12:18.

A smaller field, still filled with expectation lined up from the start of the 10km for women.

Tshepang Sello and Tyler Beling, both from Free State ran shoulder to shoulder for much of the race, but once Sello decided to break on the last of five laps, she opened a meaningful gap and held her advantage to win in 26:47. Beling crossed in 28:14, chased by an improving and strong finishing Jessica Pollock of UCT.

East London-born and bred Pollock finished in 28:22.

The men had six laps to contend with and after the first lap of wannabe winners in the lead, three men took charge. Locals were fully behind Nelson Mandela University's Mariano Eesou in the lead pack.

Lap after lap Eesou, Jeromy Andreas from UJ and Milton Kekana of Tshwane University of Technology went head to head. It was enthralling for the spectators.

In the end the superior "kick" of Andreas proved too much as he ran out a winner in 29:50, Kekana and Eesou chased for all they were worth taking second in 29:53 and third in 29:54 respectively.

The women's relay was won by Kovsies from UJ and Tuks, while the men were led home by TUT and the University of the Western Cape.

Could this be the course for the SA Champs in 2020? Locals think it should be.

The event was a huge success, all involved said.

The event was a huge success