Khotso Mokoena in the 2005 Triple Jump at the South African Championships (© Mark Ouma)
eThekwini (Durban), South Africa“Looking forward to Helsinki” Triple Jumper Khotso Mokoena, hurdler Louis van Zyl, sprinter Geraldine Pillay, and World champion high jumper Jacques Frietag scaled the heights of excellence on the final day at the ABSA South Africa Senior Track and Field Championships in Kings Park Stadium yesterday (16 April).
National record
With one final effort the World Junior Triple Jump champion Khotso Mokoena produced a national record of 17.25m. This is 29 centimetres better than the previous national mark he set last year.
“It has been a long time coming. My hope today was that we would have legal jumps given the windy condition,” said a delighted Mokoena. “Now I can look forward to action at the World Student Games in Turkey and the World Championships in Finland.”
Stunning Hurdles win
Former World Junior champion Louis van Zyl regained the 400m Hurdles title (he had won two years ago) with a career best of 48.39 (Time TBC) – the current world season’s lead. Llewellyn Herbert (48.57) was runner up. Returning to action after two years plagued by injury Pieter (Ter) de Villiers set a career best of 48.70 for third. Alwyn Myburgh (49.00), Ockert Cilliers (49.05), Francois Malan (49.95) followed in that order.
Van Zyl’s time bettered his previous best of 48.54 run which he ran during the ABSA series in February. “My goal now is to clinch a medal at the World Student Games in Turkey. Then I hope to run under 48.2 at the World Championships,” confirmed Van Zyl.
Pillay takes sprint double
Geraldine Pillay received a standing ovation from the crowd when she won the 100m in a career best of 11.07. Besides improving on her previous mark of 11.20, she was a mere one hundredth of a second off the national senior record held by Evette De Klerk. Pillay went on to win the 200m in a wind assisted 22.78.
“The point I came to make here is that people can run fast times at sea level. There is a perception in South Africa that sprinters can only run fast times at high altitude. That's not true,” said Pillay.
Freitag leaps 2.35m
The other most notable performance on the final day was in the men’s High Jump where World champion Jacques Freitag cleared the bar at 2.35m. The 22 year-old is in a fine vein of form at the moment having accomplished an African record of 2.38m on 5 March, and seems to have put his persistent ankle injury behind him.
Julius aiming at Helsinki impact
Sacrificing his national 100m title, Leigh Julius powered his way to victory with a wind-assisted 20.38 effort in the 200m. "I was not just aiming to retain the 200m title. What was more important is to run a faster 200m.That is where I want to make an impact in Helsinki," said Leigh.
1:44.96 run by Mulaudzi to beat Sepeng
A surge in speed on the home straight was enough to ensure that Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:44.96) reclaimed the 800m title from Hezekiel Sepeng (1:45.54), while Werner Botha who led the race for the first 600m was third in 1:46.09. “The pace over the first lap (53 seconds) was not that fast so I knew the last 200m would be pretty quick. I should be a medal contender in Helsinki,” said Mulaudzi.
Elsewhere…
Meanwhile Reuben Ramolefi retained his 3000m Steeplechase title with a career best of 8:24.74. Emmanuel Mkabela (8:29.00) and Petrus Monyai (8:31.29) were next in a race that saw nine athletes cover the distance in under-nine minutes. “Now that I have achieved the qualifier for the World Championships, my goals are to run a sub 8:20 and reach the final in Helsinki,” said Ramolefi.
Surita Febrraio (54.60) is relieved that her winning time in the 400m Hurdles was well inside the qualifier for Helsinki. “Now I can concentrate on sharpening my hurdling technique when I compete in Europe in June without worrying about qualifying for Helsinki,” said Febbraio.
In the women's Javelin Throw Ynthi Coetze won the event in national youth record of 57.29m, while Lohan Rautenbach set a junior men's Javelin Throw record with a winning effort of 80.03m.
Twin sisters Diana-Lebogana (4:18.99) and Lebogana Phalula (4:19.56) won the gold and silver medals in the women's 1500m.
The championships as a whole will be remembered for the unprecedented high standard set by several newcomers at the senior national level.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
SELECTED RESULTS
AFR denotes an Africa record.
HEL A denotes achieved qualifier for World Championships Helsinki A Standard HEL B denotes achieved qualifier for World Championships Helsinki B Standard NSR denotes national senior record NJR denotes a national junior record NYR denotes a national youth record PB denotes Personal best
MEN
100m (+2.5)
1 Jean du Randt 10.34
2 Morne Nagel 10.48
3 Xandre Strydom 10.58
200m(+2.3)
1 Leigh Julius 20.38 PB/ HEL A
2 Snyman Prinsloo 20.91
3 Morne Nagel 21.01
400m
1 Jan van der Merwe 45.94 HEL B
2 Marcus la Grange 46.08
3 Ofentse Mogawane 46.47
110m Hurdles (+2.5)
1 Frikke van Zyl 13.77
2 Janko Kotze 13.97
3 Ruan de Vries 14.04
400m Hurdles
1 Louis van Zyl 48.39 PB/ HEL A
2 Llewellyn Herbert 48.57 HEL A
3 Pieter (Ter) de Villiers 48.70 PB/ HEL A
4 Alwyn Myburgh 49.00 HEL A
5 Ockert Cilliers 49.05 HEL A
6 Francois Malan 49.95
800m
1 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi 1:44.96 HEL A
2 Hezekiel Sepeng 1:45.51 HEL B
3 Werner Botha 1:46.09 HEL B
1500m
1 Johan Pretorius 3:43.33
2 Francois Pretorius 3:44.34
3 Samsom Ngoepe 3:44.68
3000m Steeplechase
1 Reuben Ramolefi 8:24.74 PB/ HEL B
2 Emmanuel Mkabela 8:29.00 HEL B
3 Petrus Monyai 8:31.29 HEL B
4 Johannes Ndala 8:45.63
5 Jan Mosalane 8:50.50
6 Sivuyile Dlongwana 8:52.35
7 Thabo Mapagashe 8:56.08
8 Sello Mahase 8:57.24
9 Stephen Ng1ola 8:58.19
5000m
1 Coolboy Ngamole 13.56.14
2 Lusapho April 14.09.72
3 Mbongeni Ngxazozo 14.12.98
10,000m
1 Coolboy Ngamole 28:55.61
2 Teddy Hutamo 28:59.64
3 Mbongeni Ngxazozo 29:01.21
20km Walk
1 Marc Mundell 1:37:13.03
2 Wayne Snyman 1:38:18.91
3 Werner Appel 1:39:16.75
Long Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena 8.26 (+2.2) PB
2 Martin McClintock 8.25 (+3.3) PB
3 Yaw Fosu-Amoah 7.64 (+3.0)
Triple Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena 17.25 PB/ NSR/ HEL A (+1.3)
2 Jason Kidza-Sewayana 15.48 (+2.0)
3 Elmarco Matthews 15.23 (+2.7)
High Jump
1 Jacques Freitag 2.35 HEL A
2 Zieg Veenemans 2.15
3 Ramsay Carelse 2.15
Pole Vault
1 Okkert Brits 5.20
2 Fanie Jacobs 5.20
3 Brent Howell 4.80
Javelin
1 Lohan Rautenbach 80.03 PB/NJR/HEL B
2 Willie Human 71.93
3 Robert Oostuizen 71.48
Discus
1 Frantz Kruger 61.01
2 Johannes van Wyk 56.57
3 Chris Harmse 53.84
Shot Put
1 Janus Robberts 19.89
2 Burger Lambrechts 18.24
3 Roelie Potgieter 16.99
Hammer
1 Chris Harmse 80.63 HEL A/ PB/AFR
2 Werner Smit 68.40
3 Kristiaan Bekker 59.16
Decathlon – results tbc
1
2
3
4x100m
1 Western Province 40.95
2 Free State 42.24
3 Gauteng North 42.37
4x400m
1 Gauteng North A 3:06.93
2 Gauteng North B 3:07.31
3 Free State 3:08.04
WOMEN
100m (+1.6)
1 Geraldine Pillay 11.07 PB/ HEL A
2 Wendy Seegers 11.58
3 Cindy Stewart 11.76
200m (+2.6)
1 Geraldine Pillay 22.78 PB/ HEL A
2 Adri Schoeman 23.48
3 Estie Wittstock 23.58
400m
1 Heide Seyerling 51.48 HEL A
2 Estie Wittstock 52.21 HEL B
3 Adri Schoeman 53.31
100m Hurdles (+1.8)
1 Justine Robbeson 13.88
2 Sune Labuschagne 13.97
3 Chantelle Terblance 14.09
400m Hurdles
1 Surita Febbraio 54.60 HEL A
2 Janet Weinand 57.41
3 Chantelle Terblanche 58.69
800m
1 Lisa van der Merwe 2:04:63
2 Diana-Lebogang Phalula 2:05.03
3 Marlene Breytenbach 2:05.55
1500m
1 Diana-Lebogang Phalula 4:18.99
2 Lebogang Phalula 4:19.56
3 Marlene Breytenbach 4:20.10
3000m Steeplechase
1 Tebogo Masehla 10:17.68
2 Nolene Conrad 10:20.72
3 Abongile Leratholi 10:37.22
5000m
1 Poppy Mlambo 16:10.92
2 Ronel Thomas 16:19.49
3 Irevette van Blerk 16:11.41
10,000m
1 Poppy Mlambo 33:46.23
2 Irvette van Blerk 35:22.33
3 Simangele Mabuza 36:15.31
20km Walk
1 Nicolene Cronje 1:42:51.5
2 Suzanne Erasmus 1:44:54.6
3 Brenda Nooy 1:50:57.7
Long Jump
1 Janice Josephs 6.38 (+5.1)
2 Justin Robbeson 6.24 (+5.2)
3 Karin Mey 6.23 (+2.3)
Triple Jump
1 Charlene Wondergem 12.60 (+2.1)
2 Mariana Banting 12.13 (+1.1)
3 Moira Steyn 12.11 (+1.7)
High Jump
1 Diane Wondergem 1.80
2 Anika Smit 1.80
3 Marna Fourie 1.75
Pole Vault
1 Lindi Roux 4.02 PB
2 Annelie van Wyk 3.92
3 Samantha Dodd 3.92
Javelin
1 Ynthi Coetze 57.29 PB/ NYR
2 Justine Robbeson 54.32
3 Linda Smit 51.75
Discus
1 Elizna Naude 59.50
2 Simone du Toit 49.12
3 Marli Knoetze 46.05
Shot Put
1 Marli Knoetze 16.30
2 Simone du Toit 16.04
3 Elene Taljaard 13.01
Hammer
1 Marilize Coetzee 50.43
2 Tanya Treurnicht 48.26
3 Karin Snyman 47.22
4x100m
1 Gauteng North A 45.42
2 Central Gauteng 46.20
3 Western Province 46.38
4x 400m
1 Central Gauteng 3:39.44
2 Gauteng North A 3:45.98
3 Boland 3:55.91
