Adriaan Wildschutt became the highest South African men’s finisher in World Cross-Country Championships history when he placed 13th in the men’s senior race with a time of 29min 32sec. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo confirmed his status as one of the great distance runners of his generation as he proved untouchable when it mattered most, opening up a staggering 18 seconds on his fellow medallists on the final lap alone.
The best of the South African finishers in the women;’s senior race was Glenrose Xaba, 34th, which was 3min 23sec behind the winner, Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who won by 42 seconds, the largest margin of victory for a woman in the championships’ history.
Wildschutt, who studied at Florida State University and knew the course in Tallahassee well, said being able to know when and where to push himself on the course made the race “way easier” for him to navigate, and he called it a “special honour” to return to Tallahassee and compete alongside the other FSU alumni.
“We will be friends for the rest of our lives, and share this moment with all our fans from Florida State,” Wildschutt said. :The people from Tallahassee made it so much easier to compete here, and such a special honour to do everything for all of them.”
Wildschutt said the course obstacles, which featured sand, water, and mud, made for a unique twist on the course he was used to.
A sea of spectators lined the rolling hills and every corner or cut through of Apalachee Regional Park as as nearly 10,000 fans were in attendance.
The mixed relays was won by Australia – South Africa placed sixth – and in the U20 races, Kenya’s Frankline Kibet took gold in the men’s, while Ethiopia’s Marta Alemayo won the women’s gold.
SOUTH AFRICAN RESULTS
Men
13th: Adrian Wildschutt 29:32
33rd: Sanele Masondo 30:13
42nd: Musawenkosi Mnisi 30:45
50th: Bennett Seloyi 31:12
59th: Jaydee Rosslee 31:37
94th: Chris Mhlanga
Women
34th: Glenrose Xaba 34:51
43rd: Kyla Jacobs 35:36
45th: Cacisile Sosibo 35:40
50th: Karabo Mailula 36:14
55th: Cian Oldknow 36:25
67th: Zanele Maisa 37:43
Men’s Under-20
43rd: Benkosi Magwara 26:20
45th: Junior Noah 26:25
58th: Anele Matsaso 27:41
60th: Olerato Masiloane 27:48
66th: Beutin van der Westhuizen 29:10
DNF: Tshepang Tshivula
Women’s Under-20
27th: Lara Stander 21:15
34th: Andrea Steynberg 21:23
46th: Lara van der Merwe 22:13
56th: Ithuteng Khiba 22:55
61st: Leandri Pretorius 23:22
64th: Omaatla Dikao 24:41
Mixed Relay
6th: Luan Munnik, Karabo More, Christopher Swart, Carina Viljoen 23:04
