"It's a great pipeline for SA junior cross country" – Thabo Molete backs inaugural Champions League Cross Country series

Leading athletics commentator and announcer Thabo Molete could barely contain his admiration as he inspected the Champions League Cross Country medals and winners' trophy before they were presented at the relay stage finale at Curro Serengeti in Kempton Park on May 31. Molete has become the latest high-profile figure to throw his support behind the innovative franchise-based competition, which got underway with a time-trial stage earlier in May. A passionate advocate for the revival of cross country running in South Africa, Molete believes the series has the potential to awaken a sleeping giant. 

"Champions League Cross Country has redefined and reshaped the sport. What a great introduction to how cross country should look at national level, even world level. If you look at the World Cross Country Championships that we send our athletes to, this is basically it. It's a great pipeline for South African junior cross country from U7 to U19," Molete told #TheTopRunner.

Commentator and announcer Thabo Molete with some of the athletes who participated in the Champions League Cross Country series. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Once the cornerstone of the sport, cross country has gradually been overshadowed by the growing popularity of track and field and road running. However, Molete is convinced the Champions League format can reignite interest and restore the discipline’s prominence. While the series is not intended to replace existing cross country structures, Molete said it has introduced a fresh and exciting dimension to the discipline. 

"From what we saw today, it's an absolute yes. This should be the benchmark. I said before the prize-giving that cross country shouldn’t be vanilla. Vanilla is boring. Cross country should be exciting for these kids. It’s a wonderful concept of franchise-based teams. It’s not just focused on schools. You're looking at kids from different backgrounds and schools coming together with one common goal."

Coach Franco Oosthuizen and his Eagles lift the trophy after winning the inaugural Champions League Cross Country. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Franco Oosthuizen's Eagles team, spearheaded by elite juniors Siyanda Madlabane, Liandri Kriel and Stephen Joubert, were crowned the inaugural champions after a consistent campaign. The Rhinos finished second, while Jared de Waal’s Pythons secured third place. Series director and co-founder Michael van Aswegen echoed Molete's sentiments, saying the competition complements rather than competes with the existing athletics calendar.

"We have school competitions throughout the season, such as the Curro Podium series, the NWU series and the Menlo Relays. If we can slot this environment into the ecosystem that already exists and bring athletes from outside the mainstream structures into it, then we’re achieving our goal of adding value," he explained.

Thabo Molete (left) and race director Michael van Aswegen (right) pose with some athletes after the conclusion of the Champions League Cross Country series season one. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Van Aswegen added that securing sponsorship remains a priority, with plans already in place to channel future funding into athletics development.

“Now that we’ve completed the first series, we can take what we’ve built and start looking for sponsorship and support so we can reduce costs and become more inclusive. We’ve already spoken to CGA and said any sponsorship money that comes in next year will go directly to development. If we have funding that equates to 100 entries into Champions League Cross Country, we will work with the provincial structures to ensure those opportunities reach development clubs and athletes who need them most.”