It's either you do it properly or you don't do it at all.
This is how middle distance runner Kesaoleboga Molotsane summed up her fairytale run that culminated into the Spar Grand Prix triumph at the weekend.
Despite her second-place finish in the final leg of the Spar Women's 10km Challenge on Sunday - Kesa, as she is commonly known - had garnered enough points at other races to be declared the winner of the R173000 grand prize in her debut season.
Molotsane, 25, managed her feat at the back of a season where she was making a transition from track to short road races.
"It was a bit tiring for me to try to balance between road, track and cross country. It really worked on my mind, but I'm glad that I hung in there and it's over," an elated Molotsane told Sowetan yesterday.
The University of Free State anthropology honours student held off strong competition from defending champion Irvette van Zyl who won Sunday's race.
"My coach [Sarina Cronje] and I had initially planned to do one or two races of the Spar Challenge just to get a feel. Then I turned around and told myself that 'its either you do it properly or you don't do it at all'. That's when I decided to run the series and I am glad I did well."
Looking back at her season, Molotsane said her positive attitude carried her through in the territory that was once dominated by the likes of Van Zyl, Mapaseka Makhanya and the Phalula twins - Lebo and Lebogang.
"I was was positive throughout despite struggles with injuries, a stress fracture. I returned just on time to prepare for the World Student Games in Taipei [last month] and carried on in the Spar series."
For someone who turned professional just a year ago, she enjoyed a medal-laden campaign - she was also crowned the national and universities 5000m champion and was a runner-up at the SA Cross Country Championships.
"The Spar Grand Prix is the biggest prize I have ever won. I'm preoccupied by my studies for me to think what I will do with the prize money. It's not urgent to spend it, I'll just invest it," she chuckled.
Kesa does it properly and reaps big reward
It's either you do it properly or you don't do it at all.
This is how middle distance runner Kesaoleboga Molotsane summed up her fairytale run that culminated into the Spar Grand Prix triumph at the weekend.
Despite her second-place finish in the final leg of the Spar Women's 10km Challenge on Sunday - Kesa, as she is commonly known - had garnered enough points at other races to be declared the winner of the R173000 grand prize in her debut season.
Molotsane, 25, managed her feat at the back of a season where she was making a transition from track to short road races.
"It was a bit tiring for me to try to balance between road, track and cross country. It really worked on my mind, but I'm glad that I hung in there and it's over," an elated Molotsane told Sowetan yesterday.
The University of Free State anthropology honours student held off strong competition from defending champion Irvette van Zyl who won Sunday's race.
"My coach [Sarina Cronje] and I had initially planned to do one or two races of the Spar Challenge just to get a feel. Then I turned around and told myself that 'its either you do it properly or you don't do it at all'. That's when I decided to run the series and I am glad I did well."
Looking back at her season, Molotsane said her positive attitude carried her through in the territory that was once dominated by the likes of Van Zyl, Mapaseka Makhanya and the Phalula twins - Lebo and Lebogang.
"I was was positive throughout despite struggles with injuries, a stress fracture. I returned just on time to prepare for the World Student Games in Taipei [last month] and carried on in the Spar series."
For someone who turned professional just a year ago, she enjoyed a medal-laden campaign - she was also crowned the national and universities 5000m champion and was a runner-up at the SA Cross Country Championships.
"The Spar Grand Prix is the biggest prize I have ever won. I'm preoccupied by my studies for me to think what I will do with the prize money. It's not urgent to spend it, I'll just invest it," she chuckled.
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