Just days before the world’s best distance runners descend on Tallahassee, Team South Africa has been forced into an unwelcome change of stride. Kabelo Mulaudzi, the reigning national 10km cross country champion and one of the form runners on the domestic circuit, has been ruled out of the World Cross Country Championships after suffering an injury setback.
The withdrawal removes a key cog from South Africa’s senior men’s 10km plans. Mulaudzi was set to spearhead the team following a standout season that included three sub-28-minute 10km performances, form that had marked him as a genuine pace-setter in the deep waters of global cross country.
Instead, the baton has been passed to Jayde Roslee, who steps in as a late replacement after being named official reserve at the national trials. Roslee, who finished inside the top 20 in the junior race at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Australia, will now carry South African colours in Mulaudzi’s absence.
“We can confirm that Mulaudzi is injured,” said ASA Cross Country Chairperson and Team Manager Jakes Jacobs.
“He is replaced by Jayde Roslee who finished in the top twenty in the junior race in Australia in 2023. He was the official reserve after his performance at the trials. The good thing is that Jayde is based in the US. So, he will represent the country on behalf of Kabelo.”
Mulaudzi’s absence slightly dulls the edge of what was shaping up to be South Africa’s strongest senior men’s cross country lineup in recent years. The 10km event is unforgiving and losing an athlete with Mulaudzi’s engine and racing intelligence is a significant blow.
The senior men’s team will now rely on the experience and endurance of Adriaan Wildschutt, Bennett Seloyi, Chris Mhlanga, Sanele Masondo and Musawenkosi Mnisi to shoulder the workload on Florida’s testing terrain.
For Roslee, the call-up represents both an opportunity and a challenge: to step straight into the furnace of senior world competition with little margin for error.
While the men’s squad recalibrates, the broader Team South Africa contingent remains intact.
The senior women’s 10km team will be led by Glenrose Xaba and includes Cian Oldknow, Kyla Jacobs, Cacisile Sosibo, Karabo Mailula and Zanele Maisa.
Glenrose Xaba
Oldknow returns to international racing after an injury-disrupted year, while Xaba arrives fresh off a sixth-place finish at the Valencia Marathon.
Xaba returns to the World Cross Country Championships for the first time since stepping up to the marathon. Fresh off a sixth-place finish. Xaba is aiming to better her 32nd-place showing in Serbia two years ago. And she believes the legs are ready.
“I did not train that much because I was already fit,” said Xaba.
“So, I rested and spent the rest of December polishing up because you can’t just come from a marathon and jump into another training programme. I will do my best to go with the East Africans because it’s something that I’m used to doing. I just want to improve and finish very strong. I’m feeling very good. No injury. I just want to do my best.”
“I did not train that much because I was already fit,” said Xaba.
“So, I rested and spent the rest of December polishing up because you can’t just come from a marathon and jump into another training programme. I will do my best to go with the East Africans because it’s something that I’m used to doing. I just want to improve and finish very strong. I’m feeling very good. No injury. I just want to do my best.”
A 28-member South African team will compete across five events in Tallahassee on Saturday, with junior and relay squads also in action. But for Mulaudzi, the race will be run from the sidelines, a forced pause in a season that promised much.
TEAM SA – WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Tallahassee, Florida | 10 January 2026
Senior men (10km)
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Adriaan Wildschutt
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Bennett Seloyi
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Sanele Masondo
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Chris Mhlanga
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Musawenkosi Mnisi
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Jayde Roslee (replacement)
Senior women (10km)
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Glenrose Xaba
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Karabo Mailula
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Cacisile Sosibo
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Kyla Jacobs
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Cian Oldknow
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Zanele Maisa
Senior mixed relay (4x2km)
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Karabo More
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Carina Viljoen
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Luan Munnik
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Christopher Swart
Junior men (8km)
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Anele Matsoso
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Tshepang Tshivhula
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Beautin van der Westhuizen
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Olerato Mosiloane
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Benkosi Maqwara
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Junior Noah
Junior women (6km)
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Ithuteng Khiba
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Lara Stander
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Lara van der Merwe
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Andrea Steynberg
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Omaatla Dikao
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Leandri Pretorius
Featured images: Michael Scott, TEAM SA
