Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 74, September 2015 | Seite 43

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Race Walking

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THE CONTENDERS
For the first time since the days of Chris Britz,
Stanley Valentine, Riecus Blignaut and Carl Meyer,
we have a group of SA race walkers who have the potential
to compete with the best in the world, led by these top
senior athletes. – BY STEFANO ARACENA

LEBOGANG SHANGE (20KM)
What can be said about Lebogang that
has not already been said? This man is a
machine and has already destroyed multiple
South African race walking records this year!
Recently, racing in Lugano, he placed second
and set a new SA 20km record of 1:21:50 to
qualify for Rio. He then went on to walk an
astonishing 5000m in Cork in 18:56:84, once
again breaking the SA record. Watch out for
this guy, he could be a medal contender at
the Olympic Games.

WAYNE SNYMAN (20KM)
At the end of last year, Wayne set a South African best over 30km of 2:12:35 and followed
this up with a 1:23:41 at the 2015 South African Track and Field 20km Championships.
Unfortunately, he missed out on being selected for the World Championships in Beijing, as
it was not an IAAF Race Walking accredited event, which I think is a mistake by ASA, but I
have no doubt that Wayne will bounce back and qualify for Rio!

J

ust over 100 athletes turned out for the second race in the Over
the Moon Night Trail Run Series, present by Two The Core Events in
conjunction with Modern Athlete, and fortunately the temperature did
not go quite as low as during the first race.

MARC MUNDELL (50KM)
Marc is Africa’s top 50km race walker and
the African Record holder. He has had a
steady career and represented South Africa
at the 2012 Olympic Games. This year
he finished 10th in the Dudince 50km, in
3:56:47, whilst still working a full-time-job,
and qualified for the Rio Olympics. Marc
is currently training full-time and I have
no doubt that he will be amongst the top
50km race walkers in the world.

Up front, Pieter Henning was in blistering form in the 10km, clocking
36:28 for the 10km – keep in mind that he was running with a
headlamp on a dark trail – with Daniel Mosue and Sello Ramaloko
rounding off the podium. Sonja van der Vyver was first woman home
in 49:06, followed by Bianca Grotepass and Sally Bevington. The
5km wins went to Mark Wilson in 21:20 and Beverly Fuller in 25:11.

Image: Kyle Deeley

SALLY BEVINGTON: “ Thanks Modern Athlete for a really well

Images: Reg Caldecott, John Hishin, courtesy athletes

ANEL OOSTHUIZEN AND CORLI SWART (20KM)

The roses amongst the thorns are Anel and Corli. Anel is the leading female walker in the
country with three sub-1:40 20km walks to her name this season and a best of 1:38:03.
Corli walked a personal best of 1:40:33 this year and both these ladies have the potential
to walk their way to Rio 2016!

The IAAF Olympic qualification times for Rio 2016 are 1:24:00 (men) and
1:35:00 (women) for the 20km distance, and 4:03:00 for the men’s 50km.

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