Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019

N EW S I n t h e Compiled by Sean Falconer While the IAAF’s decision in November to omit Caster Semenya from its top five nominees for Female Athlete of the Year caused quite a surprise in athletics circles, she has been given the recognition many feel she deserves by being selected as the Athlete of the Year by the authoritative US magazine Track & Field News, in its 60 th annual world rankings. The South African middle distance star has a winning streak of 29 consecutive wins in 800m races on the world stage, and is only the second woman in athletics history to be ranked in the top 10 of the 400m, 800m and 1500m by Track & Field News in the same year. Furthermore, the magazine also recognised her world-leading 1:54.25 performance for 800m at the Paris Diamond League meet as the second-best performance of the year, after Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech’s world record in the steeplechase. Caster’s time set a new SA Record and moved her up to fourth on the all-time list for 800m times. Precious, Kesa Dominate SA Cross Country Trials South African 2018 Cross Country and 10km Champion Precious Mashele (Central Gauteng) claimed another win on the national cross country stage when he won the senior men’s 10km race at the South African Cross Country Trials in Pretoria on 19 January. He finished in 30:54, beating Rantso Mokopane (Central North West) by eight seconds. In the junior men’s 8km race, Realebogo Seopensengwe took the win in 25:37, ahead of Central Gauteng teammate Maxime Chaumeton (25:43). In the senior women’s 10km, Kesa Molotsane (Free State) overtook early leader Dominique Scott (Western Province) in the closing stages to take the win, 37:25 to 37:33, while Carmie Prinsloo of Gauteng North emerged a comfortable winner in the 8 ISSUE 115 FEBRUARY 2019 / www.modernathlete.co.za junior women’s 6km, finishing in 21:57, ahead of Gene Coetzee (Central Gauteng, 22:14). These trials will be used to select a team for the World Cross Country Champs in Arhuis, Denmark on 30 March. List Leaders for Gerda, Nolene In overseas action, reigning Two Oceans Marathon Champ Gerda Steyn continued her fine form over shorter distances as she posted the fastest time of the year so far by a South African woman for 10km, clocking 34:05 to win the women’s title in the 10km event of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon & 10km on 25 January. This was the third-fastest time of her career. While the elite marathoners enjoyed a separate start, another South African featured prominently in the event, former international triathlete Kate Roberts clocking 2:59:21 to win the women’s title in the mass race marathon. Two days later, at the Osaka Women’s Marathon in Japan, Nolene Conrad posted a 2:36:21 finish to take 16 th position in the IAAF Gold Label event, also a third-fastest time of her career to date. Brad, Annah Take 70.3 Titles Bradley Weiss and Annah Watkinson flew the SA flag proudly in Buffalo City as they claimed the men’s and women’s pro divisions at the Standard Bank IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa on 27 January. The 1.8km swim was shortened to 1.1km due to rough sea conditions, but the 90km bike and 21.1km run legs remained unchanged. Brad made it home in 3:53:50, followed in by fellow South Africans Matt Trautman (3:54:52) and James Cunnama (3:56:25). Annah took the women’s title in 4:21:15, with Brit Emma Pallant second in 4:32:12 and SA’s Jade Roberts getting third in 4:44:24. Jetline Caster Honoured in Top Rankings

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 115, February 2019 | Page 8