John Mathane reflects on Team SA’s cross-country championships performance

Team SA finished ninth overall in both the men’s and women’s team competitions, with Adriaan Wildschutt and Glenrose Xaba emerging as the country’s top individual performers after placing 13th and 34th respectively.

Mathane, who travelled with the team to the United States, told SABC Sport that he was delighted with the results and optimistic that cross country running will continue to grow in South Africa.

Mathane, who stepped into a national leadership role following the suspension of ASA president James Moloi last year, said the athletes had set a strong benchmark for future teams heading to major international competitions.

“I am very happy and excited about the performance of the team in Florida. It showed their capabilities, integrity and strong team spirit,” said Mathane, who is also the president of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN). “To the more than 60 countries that participated, they saw something special about South Africa – that we have the quality and we are still competitive.”

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He also commended the United States for hosting a world-class event, saying the organisers left nothing to chance. South Africa last hosted the World Cross Country Championships in Stellenbosch in 1996.

“I can give the host nation 100% for their organisation. From security and hospitality to the facilities and competition venues, everything was well run,” he said. “Accreditations and access took just 10 minutes, which is impressive compared to other events where it can take much longer. The local organising committee was outstanding.”

While cross country is often viewed as a development discipline, Mathane believes Team SA’s performance could shift perceptions and highlight its value in building strong long-distance athletes.

“This is not just a development event. It shows that South Africa can do better and that cross country boosts long-distance running and helps athletes improve for the marathon,” he said. “In 2027, Cape Town will host the World Trail Running Championships, and experiences like this are important. The course in Florida impressed me, and we will look at introducing similar concepts back home.”

Mathane concluded that the team’s display in Florida was a positive step forward for South African athletics and a sign of greater potential in the country’s distance-running ranks.