There were impressive performances across the board on Saturday, as athletes stuck up their hands for places in the national squad by displaying fine form at the ASA Cross Country Trials at Potchefstroom, North West Province.

With elite stars aiming to secure provisional spots in the SA team for the 2024 World Cross Country Championships, to be held in Belgrade on 30 March, Chris Mhlanga shook off a quality field to emerge triumphant in the senior men's 10km race.

Mhlanga, representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), earned victory in 30:17. He finished five seconds ahead of Mathews Leeto, who took the runner-up spot for the host province Athletics Central North West (ACNW) in 30:22. Nadeel Wildschuut of Boland Athletics (BOLA) was third in 30:26.

In the senior women's 10km contest, pre-race favourite Glenrose Xaba won convincingly in 34:34.

Xaba, who won three ASA titles this year on the track and road, shone again by finishing more than a minute clear of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) teammate Karabo Mailula.

Mailula, who won the national cross country title in Gqeberha in September, took second position in 35:39, with SA 5km road running champion Tayla Kavanagh grabbing third spot in 36:02.

There were also races held over the rarely contested 2km distance, with the World Cross Country Championships programme including a mixed 4x2km relay.

Christopher Swart (ACNW) took the senior men's race in 5:22, and national 4km champion Simonay Weitsz (AGN) held off former ASA 1500m champion Danielle Verster (ACNW) to win the senior women's contest in 6:14.

National junior cross country champion Musawenkosi Mnisi wrapped up another victory in the U20 men's 8km race, crossing the line in 24:31 in the colours of Athletics Mpumalanga (AMPU).

In the U20 women's 6km race, 16 year-old Lize de Jager (AGN) outclassed her older opponents to finish comfortably clear in 21:41.

Displaying remarkable depth in the province, De Jager led a cleansweep by the AGN squad, who took the top nine places in the junior women's event.

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of the World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.

ENDS