Good support system takes pressure off Kesa
Molotsane maintains dominance in Spar race
After clinching yet another victory in the Spar Women’s 10km Challenge at the weekend, Kesa Molotsane admitted that the feat has added an extra pressure on her.
The 26-year-old racked up her second successive win of the six-race series in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Molotsane warded off a strong challenge from Glenrose Xaba to take the race in 33:46. Xaba followed in 34:01, ahead of Patience Moruwe in third (34:16).
“Being at the top is very difficult because all eyes are on you and the pressure is more on yourself; you are being watched closely by other people,” Molotsane told Sowetan.
“It’s difficult for you to even concentrate on what you’re doing but one must be bold enough to say ‘I focus on work’.”
She, however, credited a “good support system” for keeping her grounded.
“If you have a very good support system – in this case my family, coach and training partners – I’m able to resist pressure or negative things.
“My coach [Sarina Cronje] always reminds me ‘we are doing this for ourselves’.”
Reflecting on her success story since she broke into prominence in the lucrative women’s race in her debut season last year, Molotsane said she used previous failures as her recipe for success.
“I used to lose a lot of races,” said the reigning Grand Prix champion.
“I have experienced failures and now I have rectified them.
“I put in more effort to improve but one thing is that it’s difficult to maintain the same fitness levels,” added the Bloemfontein-based KPMG runner.
Also, having a busy life off the track has become Molotsane’s second nature.
She is an anthropology student at the University of Free State, where she also serves as assistant officer to the director of sports at the university.
“I learnt to master being involved in many things but what’s important is time management,” she said.
“I have to juggle things around my training schedule [to accommodate my] studies and a full-time job.
“I am still finishing my honours in anthropology [but] I can’t survive without work, I must be paid.”
Molotsane is still deciding with her coach whether there’s a need to chase an African championship qualifying time.
The continental track and field meet will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in August.
I have faced failures and now I have rectified them