Cross country surges on

In the mix. . . South African cross country champion Elroy Gelant.

IT WAS a record field on Saturday when the SA cross country trials were held at the Boksburg Stadium. Favourite and SA Cross Country champion Elroy Gelant duling won the men’s 12km race, just he did in 2011 trials before he went on to win the national title at the SA championships.

Unfortunately, this news remains unknown to most people in the country as the whole focus of the nation is in the ongoing 2013 Afcon tournament. There is nothing wrong with the focus being on the soccer tournament; it’s Africa’s major championship and it’s happening here in South Africa. The “minor” sports in South Africa always struggle for attention in mainstream media but a total blackout that was it last week ahead of the cross country trials is just not on.

Cross country is an essential component of athletics; literally the grassroots. The code is the bedrock of Kenya’s supremacy in middle distance running. The trainers and athletics authorities in that country will not back a career of someone who did not go through the grind of cross country. The reason is not hard to find: cross country running gives athletes all-round qualities, while it strengthens their minds and resolve to overcome obstacles. It has a humbling effect on the athletes, something which works in the favour of the Kenyans and Ethiopians who will kill you with a smile on the road and track.

South African athletics have long identified the importance of cross country but the simple run around method still battles to develop into a culture in this country. The big numbers in Boksburg on the weekend are encouraging but it is at very lower levels that we must see kids running during weekend organised events at their local parks or grounds.

Overall the picture is not entirely bleak for cross country running for South Africa as the senior men’s and junior men’s teams finished overall fifth and six in the previous IAAF world championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, in 2011. The SA women’s teams finished ninth (senior) and tenth (10^th), not a shabby effort at all.
This week Athletics SA is expected to announce the national team going to the Southern Region Championships, to be held on March 3 in Lesotho. From the team going to the world champs three weks later will be announced. Judging by spirited effort in Boksburg on the weekend, at altitude to boot, one can confidently hope for a better showing in Bydgoszcz, Poland. 

For the record, Kgosi Tsosane finished second followed by Desmond Mokgobu and Lucky Mohale in the senior men in Boksburg. This trio and winner Gelant are most likely to be joined by David Manja (5^th) and Lungisa Mdedelwa (6^th) in the team going to Lesotho.
Lebo Phalula won the senior women’s race (8km), ahead of fellow old campaigner Mapaseka Makhanya and
Nolene Conrad. Mpho Mabuza and Christine Kalmer would complete the team to southern region event. The rest of the squad will include the following:

Junior men (8km): Namakoe Nkhasi, Creel Chavalala and Rantso Mekopane
Junior women (6km): Nonhlanhla Dlamini, Glenrose Xaba and Annie Bothma