Mark Ouma for IAAF
3 March 2001 – Durban -Olympic 400 metres finalist Hendrik Mokganyetsi had mixed fortunes defending his national title at the ABSA Senior Track and Field Championships.
After winning his semifinal, Mokganyetsi retained his national title with a winning time of 45.11 seconds, his second fastest time this year. Shortly after the race he collapsed and was rushed to hospital. He regained consciousness after 20 minutes and was retained in hospital overnight for observation.
"Our test have shown that Mokganyetsi was suffering from a low sugar levels in his blood. When there is a low sugar level in a person’s blood, as a safety measure, the brain tends to shut down. That is what happed to Mokganyetsi," explained Harold Adams the Athletics South Africa Chief Medical Officer.
"We have adviced Mokganyetsi to take a complete rest from all sports activities for ten day, while we carry out further test. We will be paying specific attention to his eating pattern. He will be alright and back in action provided he follows medical advice," Adams clarified.
Recounting his experience, Mokganyetsi says he was a little nervous before the final. "I have never run this event in lane one. I do not complain as that is a part of athletics. One day l might find myself drawn in lane one at a major international event.
"When l woke up in the hospital l told (doctor) Adams. You people in ASA tested me by drawing me, a defending champion, in lane one. Today l have also tested ASA to find out if their medical support system is up to scratch," said a jovial Mokganyetsi.
Olympic bronze medallist Llewellyn Herbert, was tested to the full by Alwyn Myburgh before he could retain his 400m hurdles national title. Herbert clocked a season best of 48.77. Myburgh (48.95) ahead of Martin Willemse (49.62)
Heide Seyerling, Surita Febbraio and Rene Kalmer each won two individual events. Seyerling won the 200m (22.63) and 400m (51.01). Febbraio dominated the 100n hurdles in a career best of 13.10, before winning the 400 hurdles in 55.38. Kalmer won the 1500m in a personal best of 4:08.94 and the 5000 (16:13.98).
The high light of the day was the men’s 800 metres where Thabo Thobelangope set a blistering pace of 52 seconds in the first lap. Defending champion Shaun Abrahams, former champion Lucky Hadebe, Olympian Hezekiel Sepeng and, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi responded with a sprint in the last 150 metres. Mulaudzi emerged victor in a time of 1:45,70. He was followed home by Sepeng (1:46,38), Hadebe (1:46,48), Abrahams (1:46,49) in that order.
"I was disappointed at missing the Sydney Olympics even though l qualified in the 800 metres. My goal is to win the 800m at all three Engen meetings like l did last year. This year l plan to make the team for the world championships," said Mulaudzi the 1999 Africa junior 800m champion.
The 3000 metres steeplechase stood out among events where athletes set personal best with the top three Petrus Sithole (8:33.90), Simon Mayisela (8:36.59) and Joel Kgokong (8:38.03) breaking new grounds. What’s more this event has never been contested at any national event this year.
"Our event is generally neglected. We are capable of qualifying for the world championships if the authorities accord us the opportunities other long distance events get," said Mayisela.
"Perhaps the next time we will get to run this event is at the national championships next year. How can we improve under these conditions ?," Sithole asked.
Leigh-Ann Watts set the first national record at the championships. Her winning time of 54:33 in the junior women’s 10km walk, significantly improved the old mark of 56:20.25 set by Yvonne Onderweegs in 1999.
SELECTED RESULTS
MEN
100m (NWR) - 1 Bradley Agnew 10.29 2 Lee Roy Newton 10.34 3 Morne Nagel 10.35 (personal best)
200m (+3.4) 1 Marcus la Grange 20.45 2 Corne du Plessis 20.47 3 Paul Gorries 20.51
400m 1 Hendrik Mokganyetsi 45.11 2 Marcus la Grange 45.38 3 Jopie van Outdshoorn 45.86
110m hurdles (+0.3) 1 B Bickell 14.34 2 Frikkie va Zyl 14.37 3 Billy Pelser 14.51
400m Hurdles - 1 Llewellyn Herbert 48.77 2 Alwyn Myburg 48.95 3 Martin Willemse 49.62
800m 1 Mbualeni Mulaudzi 1:45.70 2 Hezekiel Sepeng 1:46.39 3 Lucky Hadebe 1:46.48
1500m 1 Hezekiel Sepeng 3.42.71 2 Johan Cronje 3:43.07 (personal best) 3 Esau Faro 3:44.21
3000msteeplechase 1 Petrus Sithole 8:33.90 (personal best) 2 Simon Mayisela 8:36.59 (personal best) 3 Joel Kgokong 8:38.03 (personal best)
5000m 1 Shadrack Hoff 13:54.88 2 Enos Matalane 14:02.21 (personal best) 3 Sivuyile Dlongwane 14:02,76 (personal best)
10000m 1 Hendrik Ramaala 28:13.89 2 Richard Mavuso 28:14.23 (personal best) 3 Simon Mpholo 28.22.85 (Personal best)
Long jump 1 Felix Coetzee 7.76 2 Nico Grimbeeck 7.40 3 Johan Stroh 7.30
Triple jump 1 Nathan van Wyk 15.56 2 Kobus Vosloo 15.40 3 Mukusele Marala 15.03
High Jump 1 Jacque Freitag 2.20 2 Malcolm Hendrik 2.10 3 Raymond Hendricks 2.10
Javelin 1 Marius Corbett 80.12 2 Brian Erasmus 71.54 3 Willie Human 71.00
Discus 1 Frantz Kruger 62.70 2 Frits Potgieter 60.35 3 Hannes Hopley 57.08
Shot put 1 Karel Potgieter 19.03 2 Rolie Potgieter 17.45 3 Frits Potgieter 17.03
Hammer 1 Chris Harmse 76.72 2 Richardo Meiring 64.16 3 Riaan Smit 61.49 (personal best)
Decathlon 1 Jannie Botha 6542 (personal best) 2 Maartin Plews 54.83 3 Robert Porttheine 4643
Junior 10 km walk 1 Mark Mundell 53.50 2 Sihle Shange 55.19
20 km walk 1 Tjapelo Mangole 1:36:01.00 (personal best) 2 Chris Britz 1:37:05.00 3 Andre Enslin 1:38:16:00
4x100m 1 Western Province 40.02 2 KwaZulu-Natal 40.05 3 Central Gauteng 40.91
4x400m 1 Central Gauteng 3:06.55 2 Gauteng North 3:08.61 3 Central Gauteng ‘B’ 3:09.05
WOMEN
100m (-0.1) 1 Dikeledi Moropane 11.70 2 Ilse Jordaan 11.86 3 Mia Prinsloo 11.96
200m (+1.8) 1 Heide Seyerling 22.63 2 Dikelediu Moropane 23.42 3 Leanie Hall 24.12
400m 1 Heide Seyerling 51.01 2 Melody van der Merwe 54.07 3 Celeste Ferreira 54.47
100m Hurdles (-1.1) 1 Surita Febbraio 13.10 (personal best) 2 Lana van Heerden 13.51 3 Adri Vlok 13.73
400m Hurdles 1 Surita Febrraio 55.38 2 Kerryn van Zyl 57.12 3 Adri Vlok 57.17
800m 1 Zanelle Grobler 2:04.97 (personal best) 2 Catherine Maapela 2:05.26 (personal best) 3 Marie-Louise Henning 2:05.45 (personal best)
1500m 1 Rene Kalmer 4:08.94 (personal best) 2 Zanelle Grobler 4:13.51 (personal best) 3 Catherine Maapela 4:16.46 (personal best)
3000m steeplechase 1 Promise Mathonsi 10:42.31 (personal best) 2 M Bell 10:42.53 (personal best) 3 Simone Faasen 11:07.79 (personal best)
5000m 1 Rene Kalmer 16:13.98 2 Ronel Thomas 17:07.64 3 Gladys Lukhwareni 17:20.78
10000m 1 Elana Meyer 32:56.29 2 Alta Verster 35:27.91 3 Charne Radameyer 35:58.87
Long Jump 1 Charlene Lawrence 6.31 2 Ria Fourie 6.16 3 Michelle Berowsky 6.04
Triple jump 1 Ramona Gabriels 12.38 2 Karen Pretorius 12.14 3 Theresa de Vries 11.93
High jump 1 Hestrie Cloete 1.90 2 Marisca Gertenbach 1.85 3 Nicolize Steyn 1.80
Pole vault 1 Elmarie Gerryts 4.20 2 Annelie van wyk 3.90 3 Marna Jacobs 3.60
Javelin 1 Marna Dippennaar 51.14 2 Tanya Tesner 50.56 3 Tarryn Bright 48.00
Discus 1 Elizna Naude 55.00 2 Maranelle du Toit 3 Rhona Dwinger 45.09
Shot Put 1 Veronica Abrahamse 17.29 (personal best) 2 Drinkie van Wyk 16.98 3 Maranelle du Toit 15.37
Hammer 1 Elmarie Knoetzen 55.49 2 Lizel van Zyl 50.15 3 Maralize Engelbrecht 49.53
Junior 10 km walk 1 Leigh-Ann Watt 54:33 (National record) 2 Nicolene Cronje (Eastern Province)
4x100m 1 Western Province 46.29 2 Gauteng North 46.41 3 Central Gauteng 46.41
4x400m 1 KwaZulu-Natal 3:36.48 2 Gauteng North 3:38.05 3 Central Gauteng 3:45.81
