TRACK & FIELD
Quick Q & A with Champs
Courtesy of their shoe and apparel sponsor , PUMA , we caught up with three recently-crowned national champions after the SA Senior Track and Field Championships in Cape Town in May . – COMPILED BY DOUG CAREW
Sinesipho Dambile SA Men ’ s 200m Champion Winning Time : 20:55
Glenrose Xaba SA Women ’ s 10,000m Champion Winning Time : 32:31:49
Precious Mashele SA Men ’ s 5000m Champion Winning Time : 13:39.92
Images : Mark Sampson
Q : What made the difference in the final that enabled you to win your first national title ?
SD : It was cold and very windy , so conditions were tough for all of us , but the difference is a hill in Pretoria we call Tlale . I ran it a lot , especially during COVID . It strengthened my body , and it showed today against that wind .
Q : Did you come into the Championships feeling confident ?
SD : Coach and I looked at the line-up and believed I would be top three and medal , but I told my team I was going to win , so I had to show my championship heart , and I delivered .
Q : Any key factors that boosted your Champs performances ?
SD : I have been working on my core strength and my technique . Also , Clarence Munyai and I spoke before the semi-finals , and he said , “ Let ’ s put on a show .”
Q : You already have an SA u18 Record as well as a World Record and gold medal from the u20 World Champs . What have you learnt from these experiences ?
SD : That in South Africa , when we can work on our technique , have belief and stick to the plan , we can achieve anything , even beat relay records set by the USA !
Q : What are your goals for the rest of 2022 and beyond ?
SD : I have been invited to race in Rio and I will use that opportunity to qualify for the World Athletics Championships in the USA in July . Long-term , I believe that if I can fulfil my potential , I will be the world ’ s fastest 200m runner .
Q : How does this national title rank against your other titles ?
GX : This one makes me the proudest , because I easily broke my PB from 2018 , even in the cold and the wind .
Q : Take us through the race … GX : I was fortunate to have my coach , training partner and friend Caster Semenya running with me for the first half of the race . I was feeling strong and my body responded very well at the 5km mark . I will never forget this run .
Q : You narrowly missed a medal in the 5000m . How did you bounce back from that disappointment ?
GX : The 10,000m is the event I love – I mostly run 5000m to work on my speed .
Q : Any key changes that have boosted your performances this year ?
GX : I have previously battled with ITB , so Caster got me to focus my training on strengthening the muscles in my legs , and I also need to thank my physio . The improvement is there , and I am the strongest I have ever been .
Q : What are your goals for the rest of 2022 ? GX : To qualify for the World Athletics Championships in the USA in July . I am confident I can run the 5000m qualifying time , but I will need to work towards the 10,000m . Even in the cold and wind today , I was able to beat my personal best by almost 30 seconds , so if I compete in Europe in warm , still conditions , I believe I can book my ticket to Oregon .
Q : How does this national title rank against your other national titles ?
PM : This win is very important , because it takes me to the World Champs in Oregon in June . I had already run the qualifying time , but needed to place top two at our National Champs to confirm my spot .
Q : At one point you were lying eighth in the race , so did you feel in control ?
PM : I felt comfortable from the start . I suspect my rivals thought I was not 100 % fit , so they pushed the early pace , but I ran my own race .
Q : Did you come into the champs feeling confidenct ?
PM : Yes , because I was the defending champion , having won the previous two 5000m titles in 2019 and 2021 , and because I had been building up to this event since the training camp in December .
Q : What do you love most about athletics ? PM : It provides me with the privileged opportunity to travel the world . It also enables me to earn a living ; both my parents have passed away so I am the bread winner for the extended family .
Q : What are your priority events for the rest of 2022 ?
PM : The World Athletics Championships in the USA in July , where I aim to reach the final of the 5000m , and the 2022 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in China in November . Locally I will compete in the three ABSA RUN YOUR CITY 10K races , as my sponsor , PUMA , is involved in these races .
This article was supplied by Splash PR & Media Consultants on behalf of PUMA South Africa .
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