Central Gauteng Athletics kept the momentum of athletes with the 2nd CGA Track and Field event held this past Saturday, 27 February 2021 at Boksburg Stadium. The 2nd Track and Field event of an Olympic year comes a week after a very successful 1st league of this season. 

After all participants adhered to the Covid19 safety protocols, what can be classified as a competitive event commenced on track in the middle distance was the 5000m Senior women.  Farida Zwane who finished 3rd in the time of 17:53.87 behind the delightful Phalula twins, Lebo and Lebogang Phalula. The twins also dominated the CGA 2021 Cross Country Champs held early this year in the senior women category 10km event claiming the top 3 positions. Lebo was the better performer of the twins clocking 17:18.32 and Lebogang settling for the second position in the time of 17:43.29.

 “Today’s race was intend to better our performances since they’re no any opened races, but we continue to train smart in order to stay away from the injuries.” said Lebo Phalula during the post event interview. 

In 5000m senior men event, we saw a rocket start of 27 runners on the line up, included distance runners Mzazi Gladwin, Dylan van der Merwe and Simon Sibeko competing for the first position. All athletes in the start list were eager to win the race but Mzazi of Boxer Athletics Club proofed to be more eager to cling the win in a brilliant pace of 14:34.66.  The second place was claimed by Sibeko of QUITECOOL Athletics Club, in the time of 14:34.66 improved from his 1st 2021 CGA track and Field league performance of 14:39.70.  

Among the favourite race of the day was the Senior Women 200m event which saw Tamzin Thomas and Nikiwe Mongwe head to head. On the day Thomas was the better performer for the day in the time of 23.93 and Mongwe taking the second position I clocking 24.46. In the post interview of Thomas said that she is grateful for CGA to have events so that they can prepare or qualify for major International competitions such as Olympics.   

A well-known 400m meter specialist, Lythe Pillay was keen to contest in 200m Junior men event which he last ran over 2 years ago.  After sensational performance in his heat with the time of 21.17, Pillay faced off with Mvuyo Moss in the finals determined to win the 200m finals. Moss started to displayed his strength in the last 60m to take the lead from Pillay to finish first in the time of 21.06 and Pillay secured the second position in a time of 21.13.

Being the first time this season a distance of a mile is included in the league programme, saw a very competitive battle in the senior men category between Nkosinathi Sibiya, Maxime Chaumeton and Nicholas Whittaker. Nhlanhla Dlamini who was pacing his team mate, Sibiya on the day and lead the first two laps before dropping out of the race to allow to Sibiya secure his gold position in the time of 04:03.56. Chaumeton had to settle for the second position in the time of 04:06.92 and Whittaker who is still a junior clocking an impressive 04:12 to be the 3rd finish in the race.