Kabelo Melamu and Andries Sesedi favourites to bag cross-country titles in Gqeberha

The much-anticipated event is scheduled to take place at Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan University in Gqeberha tomorrow, commencing at 7 a.m.  

Melamu is gearing up to defend his 4km title, which he secured in a time of 12:03 in Rustenburg last year.

Meanwhile, Sesedi, the reigning SA 10km and 10,000 m champion, is determined to add another feather to his cap by claiming the cross-country accolade as the third different 10km championship title. 

Sesing’s athletes are the frontrunners in their respective events, and their coach is filled with optimism about their prospects of dominating their races over the weekend.

“Our preparations for the championships have proceeded smoothly, and two of my athletes are brimming with confidence. Kabelo holds the defending championship title, and Sesedi has the opportunity to etch his name in history by securing three distinct titles in a single year.

We’re optimistic about achieving faster times from both of them. They departed for Durban on Wednesday and are in excellent spirits,” Sesing shared with SABC Sport.

Melamu, set to embark on his maiden marathon views this race as a vital stepping stone in his preparations for the Caper Town Marathon scheduled for October 15. 

The 26-year-old enjoyed a decade of being coached by Sesing during his teenage years. Additionally, he has his sights on participating in the ASA marathon in Durban in March 2024, with the ultimate goal of securing a qualification for the Paris Olympics in the marathon event.

“The Kenyans and Ethiopians typically embark on their marathon journeys at a young age, and at 26, Kabelo possesses ample potential for a successful career. His determination is unwavering as he aspires to secure his place on Team SA for the upcoming Olympics. However, the immediate focus remains on clinching victory in the cross-country event this weekend. We eagerly anticipate witnessing his performance,” remarked Sesing, aged 47, who boasts an ASA level one coaching qualification and an impressive coaching tenure spanning 24 years.   

Sesedi, who faced illness in April, has made a remarkable recovery, timely for the cross-country championships. He made his comeback after several months of absence, achieving a commendable sixth-place finish at the Absa Run Your City Tshwane 10km race just three weeks ago. As the event in the Friendly City approaches tomorrow, Sesedi is now considered one of the frontrunners in the race for the title.

“Andries is in excellent physical condition,” said Sesing. “He has been diligently honing his skills, and he’s confident in his aspirations,” added Sesing.