Athletics South Africa send four teams to World Cross Country Champioships

The teams have been selected following their participation in the Southern Region Cross Country Championships in Mauritius. The team dominated the Championships and returned home with the majority of the medals and titles.

There has recently been an upsurge in middle distance running in the country and the experience gained by team members competing in the tough world of international cross country will be excellent preparation for their future careers.

In recent years South African teams did not perform as expected at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships event but ASA is planning to leave no stone unturned in its quest to send a well prepared team this year.

Plans are afoot to bring a top Kenyan cross country coach to South Africa to assist the team in preparing during a two week long training camp. The camp will also ensure that the team departs for Amman fully focused on their task at the World Championships.

The senior men's team will be led by the experienced Boy Soke, Tshamano Setone, Stephen Mokoka and Jeffrey Gwebu and together with promising Sibusiso Nzima and Kgosi Tsonane can give a good account of themselves.

The Phalula twins, Lebo and Lebogang, have been in great form during the track season and together with Annerien van Schalkwyk, Tebogo Masehla and Myrette Filmalter will compete in the senior women's race.

The junior women's team will include talented runners in Ashleigh Schnetler, Letitia Saayman and Maxine Heine-Wacker while the junior men's team will have seasoned campaigners in Windy Jonas, Sithyilo Diko and Folavia Sehohle.

TEAM TO THE IAAF WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN AMMAN, JORDAN ON 28 MARCH 2009

SENIOR MEN

1. Boy Soke AFS
2. Stephen Mokoka AVT
3. Tshamano Setone CGA
4. Sibusiso Nzima CGA
5. Jeffrey Gwebu CGA
6. Kgosi Tsosane ACNW

SENIOR WOMEN

1. Lebo Phalula CGA
2. Annerien van Schalkwyk AGN
3. Tebogo Masehla CGA
4. Myrette Filmater AGN
5. Lebogang Phalula CGA

JUNIOR GIRLS

1. Ashleigh Schnettler CGA
2. Letitia Saayman CGA
3. Maxine Heine Wacker AGN
4. Nandipha Dywili ATRA
5. Anneke Geldenhuys CGA
6. Zinhle Sinqe CGA

JUNIOR BOYS

1. Sithyilo Diko ATRA
2. Mfumaneko Fadane CGA
3. Vuyisile Tshoba ACNW
4. Windy Jonas CGA
5. Joel Monne KZNA
6. Folavia Sehohle ATRA