Jacques Freitag breaks the African High Jump record with 2.38 metres in Oudtshoorn (© Lettie Ferreira)
South Africa's World High Jump champion Jacques Freitag opened his outdoor season with an African record at the fourth ABSA Series Meeting staged at the De Jager Stadium in Oudtshoorn, South Africa on Saturday afternoon (5 March).
Challenged by the reigning national champion Ramsay Carelse, Freitag dug deep and went on to cleared the bar at 2.38. This is a centimetre higher that the African record he set in the port city of eThekwini three years ago.
"One down, two to go," says Frietag. "My plan this year is to break the African record two more times. I feel I have what it takes to break the 2.40m barriers. I have a new coach and my jumping technique off my right leg has improved. It is great to have overcome two career-threatening injuries last year," said a delighted Freitag.
Although he lost in his duel with the World champion, Ramsay Carelse was all smiles after the event as he improved his career best by nine centimetres with a clearance of 2.30m.
“Jacques presence was the key motivation. I have lacked the kind of competition that drives a person to excel. What's even better is that I have qualified for the World Championships,” said Carelse who is still only 19 years old.
Frietag was impressed with his challenge and had this to say. “He is a very promising athlete. What he needs is a good coach. He also must guard against being carried away by his achievement today. If South Africa looks after him well, there are better things to come.”
The field events saw some very close competition. Shot Putter Janus Robberts (19.26) edged Burger Lambrechts, by a centimetre. Long jumper Khotoso Mokoena (7.95) had to dig deep to prevail over Martin McClintock (7.92) and Ghanaian-born Yaw Fosu-Amoah (7.85).
Junior athlete Lohan Rautenbach (78.14) won the Javelin Throw, while Chris Harmse maintained his unbeaten run in the Hammer Throw. Johan Cronje (3:41.53) prevailed over Reuben Ramolefi (3:41.84) and Johan Pretorius (3:43.05) in a thrilling sprint on the home straight in the 1500m.
Olympic 800m silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi comfortably won the men's two lap race. New find Ofentse Mogawane (45.98), held off Olympian Hendrick Mokganyetsi (46.37) to win the 400m.
Sprinter Geraldine Pillay was a clear winner in the women's 100m (11.38) and 200m (23.09). Estie Wittstock continues to improve in the 400m, winning the race in 52.29.
Returning from a year plagued by injury, Sherwin Vries won the men's 100m (10.36). Vries (20.73) was a close second in the 200m that was won by Morne Nagel (20.72) who won his first outdoor race.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
SELECTED RESULTS
Note: All athletes are South Africans unless otherwise mentioned.
AF denotes Africa record.
HEL A denotes achieved qualifier for World Championships Helsinki A Standard HEL B denotes achieved qualifier for World Championships Helsinki B Standard SR denotes ABSA Series record PB denotes Personal best JR denotes a Junior athlete
MEN
100m (0.0)
1 Sherwin Vries 10.36,
2 Lee-Roy Newton 10.43,
3 Snyman Prinsloo 10.46,
100m For the Disabled (0.2)
1 Cazle Hendrik 12.49
2 Marius Stander 12.79
200m(+0.6)
1 Morne Nagel 20.72 HEL B
2 Sherwin Vries 20.73 HEL B
3 Marcus la Grange 20.96
400m
1 Ofentse Mogawane 45.98
2 Hendrick Mokganyetsi 46.37
3 Louis van Zyl 46.56 PB
4 Ter de Villiers 46.70
5 Llewellyn Herbert 46.98
800m
1 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi 1:46.41 HEL B
2 Shaun Abrahams 1:47.98
3 Bonolo Maboa 1:48.61
1500m
1 Johan Cronje 3:41.53
2 Reuben Ramolefi 3:41.84
3 Johan Pretorius 3:43.05
Long Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena 7.95 (+1.8)
2 Martin McClintock 7.92 (+2.0)
3 Yaw Fosu-Amoah 7.85 (+0.8)
High Jump
1 Jacques Freitag 2.38 PB/SR/AR/ HEL A
2 Ramsay Carelse 2.30 PB/ HEL A
3 Adrian Williams 2.10
Javelin
1 Lohan Rautenbach 78.14 JR/ HEL B
2 Hardus Pienaar 74.90
3 Brain Erasmus 71.35
Javelin for the Disabled
1 Marius Stander 31.36 (II)
2 patrick Saayman 15.82 (PD)
3 Francois dun Plessis 9.98 (PD)
Shot Put
1 Janus Robberts 19.26
2 Burger Lambrechts 19.25
3 Roelie Potgieter 18.72
Hammer Throw
1 Chris Harmse 74.57 HEL B
2 Werner Smit 70.69
3 Johan Moller 53.90
WOMEN
100m (-0.2)
1 Geraldine Pillay 11.38 HEL B
2 Cindy Stewart 11.84
3 Dominique Koster 12.12
200m(+0.1)
1 Geraldine Pillay 23.09 HEL B
2 Susan Deacon (Scotland) 24.19
3 Cindy Stewart 24.26
400m
1 Estie Wittstock 52.29 HEL B
2 Surita Febbriao 52.84
3 Dominique Koster 54.76
1500m
1 Lebogang Phalula 4:29.76
2 Lisa van der Merwe 4:30.21
3 Lebo Phalula 4:32.01
Pole Vault
1 Annalie van Wyk 3.90
2 Lindie Roux 3.90
3 Marne van der Burg 3.70
