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Northern Runner Regrets Missed National Championship Opportunity
Siyanda Madlabane expressed his frustration over a tactical error that cost him the gold medal at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) National Cross-Country Championships in Qgeberha on September 16. The young runner from the Benoni Northerns Athletic Club was competing in the boys’ U12 3km event.
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Madlabane’s decision to let Mantle Tshehlana from Athletics Free State dictate the race’s pace proved to be his undoing. He stayed behind Tshehlana for the entire race, intending to make a move with 1km remaining. However, Tshehlana had conserved energy, and in the final stretch, he surged ahead, winning in 10:06, three seconds ahead of Madlabane.
Reflecting on the race, Madlabane admitted his mistake, saying, “I wanted to wait until the race was left with 800m to kick. It wasn’t part of our strategy. We wanted to win, but my mistake cost us because I left it too late.” Despite his disappointment, he achieved a season’s best finish of 10:09. He acknowledged the need to trust his strengths and have more self-belief in future races.
Madlabane, a 12-year-old learner at Siphethu Primary School, has his sights set on the school’s cross-country nationals in Polokwane, where he will face Tshehlana again and aims for a gold medal. He learned from their previous encounter and intends to stick with Tshehlana throughout the race.
His coach, Nkanyiso Mthembu, advised Madlabane to adhere to their race strategy, take the initiative, and not allow competitors to control the pace. Mthembu was satisfied with Madlabane’s improved time and expressed the goal of breaking the 3km event record. He expects Madlabane to finish in under 10 minutes at the South Africa Schools cross-country championships, aiming for a record-breaking time of 9:40.
Mthembu emphasised that Madlabane’s good form and consistency make him a strong contender, regardless of whether he wins or lands on the podium in future races.
Source: Northerns runner rues missed opportunity at national championships
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Photo: Supplied by Benoni City Times
