Maisa sets sights on Absa JOBURG 10K after breakthrough top 5 at SA Cross Country Champs

Following a breakthrough performance that saw her claim a maiden top five finish in the senior women's 10km event at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships this past weekend, Zanele Maisa has set her sights on making a strong impact on the elite women’s field at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on Wednesday 24 September 2025 (National Heritage Day).

Maisa took 13th place at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K and is looking to continue her good form at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on 24 September. Photo Credit: Action Photo.

In what has been the best season of her senior career, Maisa switched from shorter distances to the 10km and the decision is beginning to bear fruit. After finishing as the runner-up behind Cacisile Sosibo at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Cross Country Championships on 16 August, the Waterfall Athletics Club ace delivered an eye-catching fifth place at the national cross country champs in Middelburg on Saturday 6 September, to announce herself as the latest member of the country’s 10km elite female ranks.

"So far so good," she said. "I'm trying. I had been focusing on 1 mile races and then I decided to give 10km a try, just to see how far I can go. It is my first season running the 10km event at cross country and it wasn’t bad at all. But I must admit that it wasn’t easy chasing the best athletes."

Maisa took fifth place at the national cross country championships to make sure that CGA's senior women ended up in the top two in the team prize competition. Photo Credit: CGA Media.

This weekend's result justifies the 29-year-old’s decision to give her running career a second try. Maisa who calls the Ekurhuleni township of Kwa-Thema home, had been a promising school athlete, but the pressures of trying to make a living saw her hang up her running shoes before deciding to make a comeback.

"It's all about the love of the sport. What motivated me to try again is seeing some of the athletes that I used to run with at school level improving. That encouraged me. My sister is also always motivating me.  It showed me that I can also do this because I used to run with them at school level. Anything is possible. Nothing is too difficult. I can still do this. It’s not too late."

Maisa clocked 55:55 to win the Gallopers 15km in July by more tan two minutes. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

Armed with a positive mindset and an encouraging thirteenth place finish at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on 24 August where she clocked 36:31, coach Thabo Moeketsi's charge intends to go all out at the final Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES race of the year on national Heritage Day.

"I changed my coach and we focused a bit more on speed, while preparing to race the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES. The programme has completely changed as the goal has been to get better over 10km as I’m hoping to be one of the top girls running around 33 minutes. I’m hoping for the best. I think the least I can do is to chase them and see how long I can stick with them. I think that mindset can lead me to run a good time and get a good position," she concluded.