Khotso Mokoena in Long Jump action - 2005 South African Champs (© Mark Ouma)
Khotso Mokoena stole the limelight with a national Long Jump record of 8.37m on the opening day of the South Africa Student's Sports Union (SASSU) Athletics Championships on a chilly Friday (22 April).
The two-day event is being used to select athletes for the World Students Games that are scheduled for the 11 to 28 August in Izmir, Turkey.
Mokoena's opening jump was 8.18m. This was four centimetre better than his previous personal best. He sat out for the next three attempts, before coming win with a massive leap of 8.37m. Enjoying the form of his life, Martin McClintoch was second (8.02), with Yaw Fosu-Amoah (7.65) placed third.
Mokoena’s performance shattered the senior national record of 8.21 set by Francois Fouche in 1990 and what of course delighted Mokoena most was that this time the jump was within the legal limit (+1.02) for a following wind.
"It was disappointing that my 8.26m effort at the senior national championships last week could not be ratified because the following wind (+2.2) was above the accepted limit. That is why I sat after the first attempt. The tail wind was too strong. Now that I have surpassed the 8.30m target I had set for myself this year, I will have to plan with my coach (Elna de Beer) and set new goals for the rest of the year.
Half Marathon championship records
Earlier on the meet got off on a record-breaking start as the championship records for both the men's and women's Half Marathon where significantly improved. Lushapo April (1:01:32) improved the men’s record from 1:07.12 and in the same race seven other athletes achieved the qualifier for the Student Games in Turkey. Kim Laxton with 1:15:50 bettered the women's championship record that previously stood at 1:18.43 Half Marathon Ezbe Strydom (1:19.34) and Elaine du Plessis (1:19.59) also qualified for Turkey.
Sprinters repeat senior national form
Elsewhere the World Student Games 100 silver medallist Leigh Julius retained his championship title with a 10.33 effort. Juan du Randt (10.35), Snyman Prinsloo (10.42), Xandre Strydom (10.45) all achieved the SASSU qualifier for Turkey.
Meanwhile, Jan van der Merwe whose career is soaring to new height following his return from a year plagued injury was a clear winner in the 400m clocking 46.37. Tinus Erasmus (47.23) and Sedwell Mithi (47.40) took the silver and bronze medals.
"I hope this convinces the doubters that victory at the national championships last week was no fluke," said Van der Merwe who clocked 45.96 to clinch the national title. "So far I have performed beyond my expectation having been out of action with a hamstring injury for most of last year.
"It will be great to compete at the World Championships with the big guys. However I have a better chance of winning a medal at the World Student Games," says Van der Merwe who has a 45.73 to his credit this year.
Earlier on Johan Cronje (3:50.2) won a tactical but slow 1500m in which the reigning World Student Games champion Johan Pretorius (3:53.8) fizzled to fourth place after leading until the home straight. Runner up Heinrich Schultz and third placed Mthobisi Baloyi were credited with an identical time of 3:52.4.
"I missed three weeks of training when I injured my heels during the ABSA series in Stellenbosch (on March 11). I hope to get a race in June in Europe where I can runs a sub 3:39 and that should get me ready for the Student Games," says Cronje.
Other noteworthy performances came in the men's Discus Throw where Johannes van Wyk (60.00) prevailed. Wendy Seegers (11.58) won the women's 100m, Tebogo Masehla (10:31.20) was victorious in the women's 3000m Steeplechase, while Mapaseka Makanya (4:30.4) won the women's 1500m
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
SELECTED RESULTS
Note: All athletes are South Africans
WSG denotes qualifier for World Student Games; NSR National Senior Record; CR denotes SASSU Championships record; PB denotes Personal best; HT denotes hand time; NWR denotes no wind reading
MEN
100m (NWR)
1 Leigh Julius 10.33 WSG
2 Juan du Randt 10.35 WSG
3 Snyman Prinsloo 10.42 WSG
4 Xandre Strydom 10.45 WSG
400m
1 Jan van der Merwe 46.37 WSG
2 Tinus Erasmus 47.23
3 Sedwell Mithi 47.40
110m Hurdles HT/(NWR)
1 Janko Kotze 13.9
2 Francois Potgieter 14.0
3 Gustav Kukkuk 14.0
1500m HT
1 Johan Cronje 3:50.2 WSG
2 Heinrich Schultz 3:52.4
3 Mthobisi Baloyi 3:52.4
4 Johan Pretorius 3:53.8
5000m HT
1 Reuben Ramolefi 14:34.4
2 Boy Soke 14:36.6
3 Lukanyo Mabinza 15:07.1
Half Marathon
1 Lushapo April 1:01:32 CR/ WSG
2 Piet Jack 1:03.39 WSG
3 Piet Jacobs 1:04:31 WSG
4 Matabela Thabo 1:05:28 WSG
5 Tebogo Komane 1:06.53 WSG
6 Rofhiwa Madumi 1:06.57 WSG
7 Tsipiso Kgotsidinsi 1:07.21 WSG
8 Johan Steyn 1:07.30 WSG
Long Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena 8.37 (+1.02) PB/CR/WSG/NSR
2 Martin Mc Clintoch 8.02 WSG
3 Yaw Fosu-Amoah 7.65
Pole Vault
1 Johan du Plessis 4.75
2 Waldo van Niekerk 4.05
3 Clive Wessels 4.05
Discus
1 Johannes van Wyk 60.00 WSG
2 Marius Bester 50.05
3 Rolie Potgeiter 48.10
4x100m
1 University of Johannesburg 42.08
2 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University 42.19
3 University of Free State 42.21
WOMEN
100m (+1.28)
1 Wendy Seegers 11.58 WSG
2 Cindy Stewart 11.71
3 Ilze Jordan 11.71
400m
1 Amanda Kotze 55.23
2 Benje Swart 56.08
3 Lizelle Kleinhans 56.83
100m Hurdles HT/ (NWR)
1 Janet Wienand 13.5
2 Sune Labuschagne 13.7
3 Chantelle Terblanche 13.7
1500m HT
1 Mapaseka Makanya 4:30.4
2 Christine Kalmer 4:35.4
3 Rika Feuth 4:35.4
3000m Steeplechase
1 Tebogo Masehla 10:31.20 WSG
2 Nolene Conrad 10:32.40 WSG
3 Andrea Horak 10:47.40 WSG
Half Marathon
1 Kim Laxton 1:15.50 CR/WSG
2 Ezbe Strydom 1:19:34 WSG
3 Elaine du Plessis 1:19.59 WSG
Javelin
1 Linda Smit 48.56
2 Riatha Jacobs 43.82
3 Relizna Labuschagne 43.28
Shot Put
1 Mariska van Zyl 13.31
2 Magdel Venter 13.21
3 Elene Taljaard 13.17
Hammer
1 Tanya Weyers 45.22
2 Sane du Preez 44.71
3 Karin Muller 42.20
4x100m
1 University of Pretoria 46.85
2 University of Johannesburg 46.99
3 University of Free State 47.56
