Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 123, October 2019 | Page 57

TRACK & FIELD
this year, Dominique clocked 14:59.08 at the Muller
GP in London to become only the third South African
to break 15 minutes for the 5000m. She also took her
10,000m best down more than eight seconds, from
31:51.47 to 31:43.18.
Leaving it All Out There
In order to fulfil all of ASA’s selection criteria,
Dominique came back to South Africa in January this
year to compete in the SA Cross Country Trials – at
great personal expense. There she finished second
behind Kesa Molotsane and booked her spot on the
team that went to the World Cross Country Champs
in Aarhus, Denmark on 30 March. Unfortunately, it
was there that the dreaded DNF was chalked up next
to her name, but not through lack of will. Dominique
literally ran herself to a standstill and blacked out less
than 600m from the finish line.
A wry smile crosses her face when she relives that
moment. “I was in such good shape. We had prepared
really hard, and the plan was to stay with the leading
East Africans for as long as possible. And it was
working. But that course was brutal, even Helen Obiri,
who won it, suffered immensely.”
The route in Aarhus was possibly the toughest cross
country course seen in decades. No long, fast and flat
grass carpets, but five laps of a 2km course that threw
in some brutal ascents and descents. “My coach
and I planned for me to sit at the back of the leading
group, which is what I did, but it was hard, and I
guess I just left everything out there. On the descents,
I didn’t even realise it, my legs were starting to turn
to jelly, and on that last climb they just gave in and I
blacked out for a short time.”
When asked if there is unfinished business with cross
country, Dominique says, “I’m not sure. It is definitely
an experience that has left me a bit scarred.” So the
jury is still out on that one, but history has shown
that Dominique is a fighter, and fiercely competitive,
so don’t be surprised if she comes back at the
next World Cross Country Championships with a
vengeance.
First World Champs
At the time of this interview, Dominique was in
St Moritz, in Switzerland, where she was doing
her final preparation for the 2019 World Athletics
Championships in Doha. Strangely enough, it will
be the first time she represents South Africa at the
World Champs, but she says no selection criteria or
stipulations was going to prevent her from being on
the start line on 2 October. “My coach, Joe Bosshard,
asked me what ASA wanted as a qualification mark
for Worlds, and I told him it was 15:09.82. The IAAF
standard is 15:22.00. When I told him, his response
was, ‘Ok, then we will leave nothing to chance.’ And
we didn’t.”
Dominique qualified with a time a full 10 seconds
inside the ASA qualification standard with her
14:59.08, and her place was a given. She then spent
much of her time training in hot and humid conditions
to prepare herself for what many believe will be
amongst the most brutal weather conditions ever
for a World Championship meet. Temperatures are
expected to be around 32 degrees when Dominique
lines up on 2 October, with a humidity level between
80 and 90%. “We have prepared as best as we can.
The conditions will mean that times won’t be as fast
as they could be, but then the conditions are the
same for everyone.”
For now, Dominique will still focus on the track, but
the long-term goal will be the road – and if you can
run 35 minutes for 10km in your early teens, then the
road surely must ultimately be her strongest event.
Dominique currently has a 10km best of 32:22, run
in 2017. Wherever her running takes her, though, you
can be assured this fierce, hardworking competitor
will create waves, because after all, giving up is simply
not an option.
Settled and happy in
the USA with husband
Cameron Efurt
Dominique’s Personal Bests
Indoors
1500m
4:07.25 (SA Record)
1 Mile
4:28.47
3000m
8:41.18 (SA Record)
5000m 15:51.25
Outdoors
1500m 4:07.20
1 Mile
4:26.63
3000m 8:41.33
5000m 14:59.08
10 000m 31:43.18
Road
1 Mile
4:20
5km 15:36
10km 32:22
15km 53:59
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