"I had planned to win this race" - Pheko dismantles quality field to win 4km race at CGA Cross Country Championships

Zenzile Pheko closed the CGA cross country championships programme in scintillating fashion, obliterating a star-studded field to win the senior men’s 4km at the Germiston Soccer Club on Saturday August 15. 

The Boxer AC runner produced one of the most impressive performances of the championships, beating a field that included reigning national senior men’s 4km champion Sibusiso Msibi, Olympian Ryan Mphahlele, Precious Mashele and Corne de Fouw. Pheko completed the undulating 2km course twice in a blistering 11:22, dragging four athletes under 12 minutes and 24 others under 13 minutes. The victory also provided a timely confidence boost ahead of the ABSA RUN YOUR CITY Tshwane 10K on August 23.

Pheko surges ahead of Mphahlele on his way to victory. Photo Credit: Supplied.

“After my speed session yesterday (August 14), I had planned to win this race. It was either first or second. I jogged the first kilometre and started pushing when my body warmed up. I gained more confidence as I got closer to the finish line. I’m very happy with the results,” he told #TheTopRunner.

Mphahlele finished second in 11:48, 27 seconds behind Pheko, with De Fouw third in 11:50. Msibi was fourth in 11:56, while Nhlanhla Mnothoza completed the top five in 11:59. Depending on his recovery from next Sunday’s ABSA RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K, Pheko will help CGA defend its senior men’s 10km title at the ASA cross country championships in Pretoria on September 5.

“If I recover well, I’m going for a win,” he declared.

In the senior women's 4km, the University of Johannesburg’s Faith Mabhena dropped early pace-setter Kedibone Mohwang of Mamepe Striders in the final lap to claim victory in 15:08. Mohwang finished second, 14 seconds adrift, while Mabhena's UJ teammate, Johanna Sethowa, completed the podium in 15:29.

Mhlanga smiles after winning the men's 10km race only for Mokoena to be declared CGA Champion. Photo Credit: CGA Media.

Earlier, Boxer AC teammates Chris Mhlanga and Bennet Seloyi produced a thrilling finish in the senior men’s 10km, with Mhlanga out-sprinting Seloyi on the finishing straight to claim the title in 31:02. Seloyi, a bronze medallist at last year’s nationals, finished three seconds behind, while Mpumelelo Mokoena of Benoni Northerns Athletic Club was third in 31:33. But there was drama as Mokoena was declared the provincial title after Mhlanga and Seloyi failed to complete the required number of league meetings.

Cacisile Sosibo won the senior women’s 10km title in 35:51, ahead of Boxer AC teammate Samantha Coetzer (38:19) and Pan African Resources runner Kebogile Motshabi (38:59).