Pretoria Athletes Shine at ASA Cross Country Trials Ahead of World Championships

Local athletes delivered outstanding performances at the ASA Cross Country Trials held this past weekend in Pretoria, a key selection event for the national team heading to the World Cross Country Championships in the United States this January. The trials, integrated into the USSA Cross Country Championships at Tshwane University of Technology, featured fierce competition across both men’s and women’s 10km races.

In the women’s 10km race, Pretoria’s Karabo Mailula, representing Tuks, claimed victory with a winning time of 36:16. Close behind was Cacisile Sosibo of Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), who pushed Mailula for much of the race before finishing second in 36:32. Kyla Jacobs, now competing for Western Province Athletics (WPA) after moving from Pretoria to Somerset West, secured third place with a time of 37:08.

The men’s 10km race saw marathon specialist Bennet Seloyi (CGA) cross the finish line first in 30:09. Elroy Gelant of Athletics Central North West (ACNW) finished just behind in 30:18, with KwaZulu-Natal native Sanele Masondo, currently studying in the United States, taking third in 30:24.

The event highlighted the depth of talent in South African distance running and set the stage for the national team selection for the upcoming World Cross Country Championships.

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