On a fantastic night of distance running, two national records were broken by athletes from Botswana, while Nadeel Wildschutt and Glenrose Xaba successfully defended their South African 10 000m titles at the Cape Milers Club ASA Grand Prix meeting held at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.
Closing out the meeting, a quality line-up in the men’s 1 500m race did not disappoint, with Tshepiso Masalela breaking clear on the final lap to hold off challenges from local favourites Tshepo Tshite and Ryan Mphahlele.
Masalela took the win in a Botswana national record of 3:30.71, with Tshite holding on to secure the runner-up spot in 3:32.03 ahead of compatriot Ryan Mphahlele (3:33.36).
Tshite crossed the line just 0.10 outside the SA record of 3:31.93 set by Johan Cronje in Rieti, Italy in September 2013.
There was also a Botswana national record in the women’s 800m race, with Oratile Nowe leading from start to finish, clocking 1:59.22 to slice 0.22 off her own mark.
Aviwe Hoboloshe took second place in 2:02.47 and Naum Bopape ended third in 2:02.85.
Xaba and Wildschutt retain titles
With the meeting hosting the SA 10 000m Championships, Xaba produced a dominant solo performance in the women’s race, while Wildschutt stormed clear in the latter stages of a tactical men’s contest.
Xaba never gave anybody else a chance, hitting the front from the start and overlapping every other athlete in the field on her way to victory.
She completed the 25-lap race in 31:40.13, securing her eighth national senior title over the 10 000m distance.
Cacisile Sosibo took second place in 33:38.68 and Karabo Mailula was third in 34:12.78.
“It’s very special for me to win this title eight times because it shows I’m very consistent, and it’s not easy to be consistent and maintain your form if you’re not disciplined,” Xaba said after the race.
In the men’s contest, Wildschutt sat back for most of the race, forming part of a large lead group.
With four laps to go, he launched a furious kick as the pack stretched out behind him, and he coasted to victory in 29:10.57.
Cwenga Nose grabbed the silver medal in 29:13.69 and Anthony Timoteus held on for bronze in 29:15.99.
“It’s an honour to be in a fortunate position to retain the title. Luckily the race was not inland – it was at the coast – so I had a lot more control of how the race might unfold,” Wildschutt said.
“As a result I decided to rather just hold back a little and make it strategic and wait until the last few laps to make a move.”
In other events, Ketlhobogile Haingura of Botswana won the men’s 800m race (1:44.00), Karabo More took the women’s 1 500m contest (4:10.67), former SA record holder Jerry Motsau secured victory in the men’s 3 000m race (7:59.03) and Aphelele Nkonyeni triumphed in the men’s 3 000m steeplechase (8:35.43).
* Featured image of Tshepiso Masalela by Cecilia van Bers
