Janus Robberts putting in Stellenbosch, South Africa (© Mark Ouma)
South Africans Reuben Ramolefi and Janus Roberts stole the limelight at the penultimate Yellow Pages Series meet at the Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch South Africa on Friday night (27).
The event took the form of a dress rehearsal for the South Africa National Championships to be staged at this venue in a fortnight. Making home advantage count several winners signalled their intention to claim national titles.
Near to national record
Ramolefi took the 3000m Steeplechase by the scruff of its neck leading from the start. He appeared on course to break the national record (8:19) but faded on the last lap. However, he had put enough daylight between himself and the chasing pack to win in a credible 8:22.74.
“I felt I was on course for something new when I reached the bell in 7:17. That was two seconds faster that at the Beijing Olympic where I set my personal best,” says Ramolefi. “I just need a little more effort on the last lap so as to create something new.”
Back over 20m
Elsewhere a final heave of 20.20m in the men’s Shot Put saw Janus Robberts react by punching the air knowing he had fulfilled part of his season’s mission in his own backyard. “This is the first time I have gone over 20m since the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games,” said a delighted Robberts.
“I felt comfortable rotating in the circle in which I train. My target at the nationals championships is to throw a further ten centimetres to achieve the World Championships ‘A’ standard qualifier ,” Robberts declared.
Other home ground victories came through 400m hurdler Cornel Fredericks (50.63sec), javelin thrower Robert Oosthuizen (79.69m) and the women’s 3000m Steeplechaser Nolene Conrad (10:26.50), who ran in spikes for the first time. “It is a new feeling running in spikes. I slowed at the water jump. Training in spikes next week should get me in better shape for national championships,” said Conrad.
The meets surprise package came in the women’s 400m Hurdles. Running in the outside lane Malaysia’s Noraseela Mohd Khalid (56.96) prevailed over local favourite Janet Wienand (57.75).
“My goal was to at least achieve the World championships ‘B’ standard qualifier (56.55). I made a few errors in the last four hurdles which I hope to correct when I compete next week. I am now more confident that I can lower my personal best of 56.08,” says Khalid.
The men’s 1500m was expected to produce fireworks but Isaac Mboyaza suddenly faded after taking the athletes through the first 300m in 37 seconds. After that the main contenders reverted to a tactical race and it all came down to the final sprint in the home straight where Juan van Deventer (3:40.74) outpaced Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (3:41.06) to claim victory.
“My hope was to qualify for Berlin. The change of tactics affected our performance. I will go for the qualifier in the heats at the national championship and concentrate on retaining the title in the finals,” Van Deventer explained.
Meanwhile 18-year-old Caster Semenya (2:03.68) achieved a lifetime best in the women’s 800m in the absence of her coach (Michael Seme) who is away with the national cross country team at the regional champs in Mauritius. “Coach told me not to worry. Just enjoy myself even though I am a front runner throughout most of my races,” Semenya revealed.
The on-form South Africans prevailed in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays over their opponents from Lesotho, Kenya and Mauritius who were competing for the first time this year.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
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