Louis van Zyl en route to a 400m PB in Tshwane (© Mark Ouma)
South African javelin thrower Robert Oosthuizen and hurdler Louis van Zyl provided the highlights at the Yellow Page Track and field Meet in Potchefstroom in South Africa on Thursday.
Lightning and a heavy thunderstorms gave way to the longest program in the series so far. Such was the effect of the heavy rains that the program fell well behind schedule owing to repeated power outages. Once the steady flow of electricity was restored, the patient fans were entertained by the equally patient athletes.
Oosuthizen kept his promise to establish more consistency this season with a winning throw of 82.15m. “After the 82.96 throw in Port Elizabeth two weeks ago, I remmain committed to posting distances of over 82 metres,” Oosthuizen said.
“As long as I remain healthy, I look forwards to atone for missing the last Africa Senior Championships in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) due to a leg injury. My aim is to win my first Africa senior title in Nairobi (Kenya) in July,” says Oosthuizen who made his international mark when he won the event at the 2006 World Junior Championship in Beijing, China.
A constant feature at this meet over the years is the studied gaze and calm advice from javelin coach Terseus Liebenberg from the outer edged of the track as his charges walk back and forth to him after their throws for a peep talk.
This meet continued in that mode as former Africa champion and record holder Justine Robbeson returned to competition following an elbow operation last year. Her main challenge was her stable mate Sunette Viljoen, the Africa record holder and World Student Games champions. At the end of the showdown a mere four centimetres separated the two intense rivals with Robbeson (60.48m) ahead of Viljoen (60.44m).
“This week has been a strange. I could not throw anything over 56m and then this. I am glad to be back in action,” said a delighted Robbeson. She was very cautious not to predict her chances of regaining the continental title.
Van Zyl – ‘My confidence is high’
Drawn in lane four, African champion Louis van Zyl got off to an aggressive start. He had a slight edge over his main challenge Cornel Fredericks in the fifth lane at the start of the back straight.
Fredericks, the latest addition to South Africa’s rich heritage of elite hurdlers, made his move just as they came into the home straight. However Van Zyl held off the challenge to win in 49.50 to Fredericks’ 49.95.
“It is important for me to develop race fitness early. With a long season ahead of us leading up to the Commonwealth Games in October, I want to be sure this will be my best season in three years. My confidence is high since I am back with my coach Hennie Kotze, after returning home at the end of a two year contract training the Saudi Arabia team,” Van Zyl disclosed.
Other notable results came from Ofentse Mogawane (45.84) in 400m. In the 200m Snyman Prinsloo (20.84) pipped the Africa champion Thuso Mpuang (20.85) and Simon Magakwe (20.90).
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Full results
Lightning and a heavy thunderstorms gave way to the longest program in the series so far. Such was the effect of the heavy rains that the program fell well behind schedule owing to repeated power outages. Once the steady flow of electricity was restored, the patient fans were entertained by the equally patient athletes.
Oosuthizen kept his promise to establish more consistency this season with a winning throw of 82.15m. “After the 82.96 throw in Port Elizabeth two weeks ago, I remmain committed to posting distances of over 82 metres,” Oosthuizen said.
“As long as I remain healthy, I look forwards to atone for missing the last Africa Senior Championships in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) due to a leg injury. My aim is to win my first Africa senior title in Nairobi (Kenya) in July,” says Oosthuizen who made his international mark when he won the event at the 2006 World Junior Championship in Beijing, China.
A constant feature at this meet over the years is the studied gaze and calm advice from javelin coach Terseus Liebenberg from the outer edged of the track as his charges walk back and forth to him after their throws for a peep talk.
This meet continued in that mode as former Africa champion and record holder Justine Robbeson returned to competition following an elbow operation last year. Her main challenge was her stable mate Sunette Viljoen, the Africa record holder and World Student Games champions. At the end of the showdown a mere four centimetres separated the two intense rivals with Robbeson (60.48m) ahead of Viljoen (60.44m).
“This week has been a strange. I could not throw anything over 56m and then this. I am glad to be back in action,” said a delighted Robbeson. She was very cautious not to predict her chances of regaining the continental title.
Van Zyl – ‘My confidence is high’
Drawn in lane four, African champion Louis van Zyl got off to an aggressive start. He had a slight edge over his main challenge Cornel Fredericks in the fifth lane at the start of the back straight.
Fredericks, the latest addition to South Africa’s rich heritage of elite hurdlers, made his move just as they came into the home straight. However Van Zyl held off the challenge to win in 49.50 to Fredericks’ 49.95.
“It is important for me to develop race fitness early. With a long season ahead of us leading up to the Commonwealth Games in October, I want to be sure this will be my best season in three years. My confidence is high since I am back with my coach Hennie Kotze, after returning home at the end of a two year contract training the Saudi Arabia team,” Van Zyl disclosed.
Other notable results came from Ofentse Mogawane (45.84) in 400m. In the 200m Snyman Prinsloo (20.84) pipped the Africa champion Thuso Mpuang (20.85) and Simon Magakwe (20.90).
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Full results
