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Prize money for cross country
10/05/2006 18:22 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Athletics South Africa (ASA) cross country season begins this weekend in Bloemfontein with a new series of five events for 2006. For the first time prize money will be paid at cross country meets.
The venues earmarked for this series are Bloemfontein, on May 13, Polokwane, June 3, Umthatha, July 15, Oudtshoorn, August 5, and culminating with the SA Cross Country Championships in Mpumalanga on September 9.
ASA will utilise the series as a platform to give competition opportunities to athletes in the provincial and national middle and long distance squads.
The event in Bloemfontein has drawn top runners in all the race distances and some exciting duels can be expected.
In the senior men's 12 km event Norman Dlomo(AVT), Khetang Mahapa(AVT), Mandla Maseko(AGN) and Nkosivelilele Ntantiso(Transkei) will be in action.
Among the entries for the senior women's 8km event are Poppy Mlambo, who will to beat the likes of Tebogo Masehla(CGA), Smangele Mabuza(AVT), Irvette van Blerk(CGA), Takalane Nthulane(CGA), Nolene Conrad(WPA) and Marelise Retief (AGN).
The senior men's 4km event could be the highlight of the day when Free State's Boy Soke, Emmanuel Mkhabela, and Pule Hlabahlaba will face stiff opposition from Vincent Kutoane (CGA), Lucky Mohale (CGA), Sello Mahase (CGA), Stephan Steenkamp (CGA) and Sydney Motsapi (AVT).
The Junior men's race will once again provide tough competition. The outstanding Tshamano Setone (CGA) will be hard to beat but anyone of Esau Nkosi (AVT), Siyabonga Nkonde (KZNA), Abram Khumalo (CGA), Thusi Phaswana (CGA) and Tisetso Pitso (CGA) could spring a surprise.
The Phalula twins, Lebo and Lebogang, will be in action in the Senior women's 4km event. They will line up against Chanelle Olivier (CGA), Rene Kalmer (Free State), Violet Raseboya (CGA) and Ntombesintu Mfunzi (EPA) and yet another excellent race can be expected.
- SAPA
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