IN THE NEWS
South African Athletes Making Headlines – BY REGGIE HUFKIE
Louisa Clinches Fast Spar Cape Town
Louisa Leballo( Nedbank) sprinted to victory in the first leg of the Spar Women’ s Challenge in Cape Town on 2 April, clocking a personal best 32:55 to just beat Kesa Molotsane of KPMG by a second, as the runner-up also clocked a new PB. Coming home third was 2016 Spar Grand Prix winner Irvette van Zyl( Nedbank) in 34:04, and other highlights included master Judy Bird( KPMG) setting a new Western Province Open Record of 38:43, while greatgrandmaster Veronica van Niekerk( Elgin Grabouw) clocked a new SA record of 49:38, beating her own record by 10 seconds.
Youngsters Shine at Junior Champs
Simonay Weitsz bagged three gold medals at the ASA Youth & Junior Championships, held at the Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town on 7-8 April. Despite gusty conditions on day one, she managed to clock an impressive 4:27 in the 1500m, then added an astonishing 2:06.96 in the 800m and 9:58.31 in the 3000m. The new South African junior 100m record holder Gift Leotlela, also caught the eye with a world-class 20.28 victory in the men’ s u / 20 200m final on day two. Another show-stopper was Shanley Koekemoer, who cruised to a new South African record of 6:42.48 in the girls’ u / 18 2000m steeplechase.
Local Hero Clinches Two Oceans
Olympic marathoner Lungile Gongqa won the 2017 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon on 15 April, becoming the first Capetonian to win the race since Don Hartley in 1973! His time of 3:09:43 was enough to outpace Lesotho’ s Warinyane Lebopo( 3:10:21). In the women’ s race, Maryna Damantsevich of Belorus cruised to a maiden Two Oceans win in 3:37:13, but South African eyes were focused on Durbanite Jenna Challenor, who smiled her way through much of the race to clinch the runner-up position in 3:47:32. In the accompanying half marathon, Namakoe Nkhasi( 1:03:15) and Irvette van Zyl( 1:13:53) both successfully defended their titles.
Sprinters Thrill Crowd at SA Champs
The incredible rise of SA sprinting continued apace at the ASA Senior Championships on 21-22 April in Potchefstroom, with Akani Simbine and Carina Horn leading the way as they cruised to world-class 100m times of 9.95 and 11.11 respectively. Akani claimed the 100m title by beating Olympic 400m champ Wayde van Niekerk, but Carina unfortunately had to withdraw from the women’ s final, while Alyssa Conley defended both her 100m and 200m titles comfortably in 11.41 and 22.94. Meanwhile, 400m hurldes Olympian Leroux Hamman dethroned LJ van Zyl in a tight final that saw the top three hurdlers all dip under the magical 50-second barrier.
More world-class performances followed, with 400m World Record holder Wayde van Niekerk winning the men’ s 200m final in a world-leading time of 19.90. Orazio Cremona( men’ s shot-put) dominated with a mighty 21.12m heave, while Rikenette Steenkamp( women’ s 100m hurdles) edged closer to the SA record with a new PB 13.02 time. In the men’ s long jump, Olympic silver medallist Luvo Manyonga bettered his own African and SA Record of 8.62m with a jump of 8.65m. Two-time Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya did the 400m-800m double, with impressive times of 51.60 and 2:01.03. Another highlight was Chris Moleya bagging gold in the men’ s high Jump with a winning jump of 2.25m.
Middle distance specialists Rantso Mokopane, Dumisani Hlaselo and Simonay Weitsz also delivered exceptional championship performances. Rantso cruised to an impressive victory in 8:34 in the men’ s 3000m steeplechase, Dumisani stole the show with his 3:41 victory in the men’ s 1500m, and SA Junior Champ Simonay shocked all-comers with her 4:21 victory in the senior women’ s 1500m final. In the men’ s 800m final, Rynardt van Rensburg finally claimed a national title with a 1:46 effort, having finished third in 2012 and second in the next four years!
Chris Harmse sets World Record!
Another highlight of the SA Champs saw hammer throw legend Chris Harmse set a new World Record when he won his 22 nd consecutive national title, making him the only track and field athlete in the world to achieve this feat – and he did it with a mighty final throw to clinch the gold medal!
SA Race Walkers on the Rise
Also in April, Lebogang Shange walked to a third place finish at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Taicing, China, clocking 1:23:45 for 20km and a podium position. Back home, Wayne Snyman cruised to a 1:25:50 victory at the ASA Senior Championships in Potchefstroom, making him the second-fastest South African 20km race walker at altitude. Meanwhile, the women’ s title was claimed by Anel Oostuizen, who celebrated her 22 nd birthday on the 22 nd of April by securing her fifth consecutive national title in 1:38:53. She also recently equalled her SA 20km Record while competing in Europe.
Images: Reg Caldecott, Jetline Action Photo & courtesy athletes
10 ISSUE 94 MAY 2017 / www. modernathlete. co. za