Msibi wins maiden senior title, More defends, while Mulaudzi & Xaba reign supreme at ASA Cross Country Championships

Sibusiso Msibi clinched his maiden senior national crown when he powered to victory in the men's 4km race, while Karabo More stormed to a successful defence of her women's 4km title at the ASA cross-country championships in Middelburg on yesterday (September 6).

Msibi, representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), ran a tactical race, letting Athletics Gauteng North's (AGN) Musawenkosi Mnisi set the early pace before making his move in the final 2km. He surged clear to seal a commanding 12-second victory, stopping the clock in 11:46. Mnisi followed him home in 11:58 to claim the silver, while his Gauteng North teammate Etienne van Wyk claimed the last podium spot in 12:00.

Msibi who is coached by Elvis Khoza and trains alongside Ryan Mphahlele celebrates a maiden SA Senior Title. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

"I've wanted the national senior title for a long time. The last time I won an SA title was in 2019 when I was 15. I've dreamed about winning the senior men's 4km title. The competition was tight. The guys are strong. I was a bit tired from last week's Curro Mile. But I'm grateful for today's race. The plan was to hold them in the first 2km and go out from there. I'm happy it worked," Msibi told #TheTopRunner.

AGN's More made light work of her title defence, taking control from the opening lap and never looking back. She cruised home in 13:34; a full 21 seconds clear of Athletics Central North West’s (ACNW) Danielle Verster, with KwaZulu Natal Athletics’ (KZNA) Ntsoaki Molahloe, who took fourth position in the 10km earlier in the day, settling for third in 14:08.

More defended her 4km title. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

"I knew I had to defend my title. I didn't know how. I told myself to have fun and run my own race and I will see the results. It was tough. The girls are running fast. It's a good thing for the sport to see this improvement. I'm happy and proud of myself. I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it if I went out too early. I panicked. But I told myself to finish what I started," said More.

Pre-race favourites, Kabelo Mulaudzi and Glenrose Xaba lived up to expectations, storming to commanding victories in the senior men's and women's 10km races, respectively. Mulaudzi breasted the tape in 31:28 for his third consecutive title, as CGA's men swept the podium with the top three finishing inside 32 minutes. Zenzile Pheko, last year's junior men's 8km champion, followed in second-place in 31:42, while national marathon champion, Bennett Seloyi completed the top three in 31:54.

Muluadzi secured a third consecutive Senior Men's 10km ASA Cross Country title. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Xaba was in dominant form, grabbing the lead early before gradually stretching it to eventually breast the tape in 35:12, a full 2:45 minutes over runner-up and AGN teammate Karabo Mailula, who grabbed the silver in 37:57. CGA's Cacisile Sosibo claimed the bronze in 38:26.

Glenrose Xaba was dominant in the women's 10km event. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Boikanyo Motlhamme of CGA and ACNW's Carmie Prisnloo wrapped up the programme in style, storming to victory in the senior men's and women's 2km events. Motlhamme clocked 5:38, beating ACNW's Jansen Bell by three seconds, while Dumisang Motloung of Athletics Free State finished third in 5:42. AGN's Prinsloo won the women's race in 6:31, with her provincial teammate Naum Bopape following in second place two seconds later. Junior athlete Andrea Steynberg of ACNW was third in 6:36.

Juniors

ACNW’s Amogelang Tatai clocked 26:02 to win the junior men’s 8km title, beating Anele Matsoso of Athletics Vaal Triangle (AVT) by 27 seconds. CGA’s Oratile Mashigo claimed the bronze in 26:48. Lara van der Merwe of AGN won the junior women’s 6km in 22:55, crossing the line ahead of KZNA’s Anele Ndawonde, who clocked 23:03 for the silver. ACNW’s Steynberg completed the podium in 23:24.

CGA Men swept the podium in the 10km event. Photo Credit: Lebogang Pita.

Other races

In selected results, Marko Bucarizza set the tone early in the programme with a blistering victory in the sub-veteran men’s 8km, winning in 26:16. He was followed in second-place by his CGA teammate Thabo Motaung 29 seconds later, with Western Province Athletics’ (WPA) Dewayne Morries third in 26:49. CGA’s Chelsea van Dyk continued her dominance, winning the U14 girls’ 4km in 14:08, while Katlego Shongwe of ACNW’s won the boys’ race in 12:53.