Mark Ouma for the IAAF
22 January 2000 – Phokeng, South Africa – South African sprinters Mathew Quinn and Heide Seyerling qualified for the Sydney Olympics Games at the first ABSA track and field series meeting.
The pair stole the limelight of the first international competition held in rural South Africa at the new Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng.
Opening his Sydney campaign on a high, Quinn won the 100m and 200m. He clocked 10. 27 to finish ahead of compatriot Lee-Roy Newton (10.39) and Malaysia's Watson Nyambek (10.47) in the 100m. Over the longer distance, Quinn timed 20.55 ahead of a field that included Marcus la Grange (20.71) and Newton (20.77).
"I did not come out to set records but to see how my training is going. We have a long season ahead, so there is no hurry for records. However, I have to maintain my form as there is a lot of talent in the country and we are all determined to show the world what we have got," said Quinn.
Seyerling made her Olympics intentions known when she was timed 22.90 in the 200m. She was followed home by Ireland's Karen Shinkins (23.32) and Clara Sheehy (23.58). Earlier on Seyerling won the 100m in 11.44, with compatriots Surita Febrraio (11.59) and Mia Prinsloo (11.96) giving chase.
Stuck at a season best of 22.89 in the 200 for two consecutive seasons, the 1994 World Junior 200m Champion threw down the gauntlet. " I definitely want to improve my personal best (22.89) by a big margin this year. Although l have been training hard, l did not expect these quick times right now."
Several other South Africans were in equally sparkling form. Burger Lambrechts set his sights on Sydney when he heaved the shot put to a distance of 20.29m. Accelerating with 150 metres to go, Hendricks Mokhanyetsi powered his way to win the men's 400 in 45.85 - his fastest time in two years.
South African hurdlers Shaun Bownes and Hennie Botha won their specialities. Bownes won the 110m in 13.59, while Hennie Botha rallied to a convincing 49.87 in the men's 400m hurdles. Commonwealth Games champion Hestrie Cloete was a comfortable winner in the women’s high jump clearing the bar at 1.90m.
Tanzanian Lwiza John and Kenya's Joseph Mwengi Mutua emerged winners of slow but tactical 800m races. John out-sprinted the World indoor and outdoor 800m Champion Ludmila Formanova (Czech Republic) to win the 800m in a slow 2:09.24. Formanova (2:09.87) came second ahead of Zimbabwe's Julia Sakara (2:10.54).
Mutua said the victory was an important psychological boost after years in the shadows since winning the 800m gold medal at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Sydney. "I am proud to start the millennium on a winning note. My goal this year is to go back to Sydney and win another medal.
"I just pray that l can get a good manager who can help me get into competitive international meetings. That is why l have started competing so early," said the former world junior champion.
RESULTS
Note: All athletes are South African unless where indicated.
MEN
100m A:1 Matthew Quinn 10.27, 2 Lee-Roy Newtron 10.39, 3
Watson Nyambek (Malaysia) 10.47
200m A:1 Mattew Quinn 20.55, 2 Marcus la Grange 20.71, 3 Lee-Roy Newton 20.77
400m A: 1Hendrik Mokhanyetsi 45.84, 2 Louis Rehel 46.39, 3 Jopie van Oudtshoorn 46.82
800m: 1 Joseph Mwengi Mutua (Kenya) 1:48.57, 2 Graham Davidson 1: 48.69, 3: Christo
Boshoff 1:49.19
110m Hurdles:1 Shaun Bownes 13.59, 2 Igor Kovac (Slovakia) 13:78, 3 Paul Delicado 14.34
400m Hurdles A: 1 Hennie Botha 49.87, 2 Martin Willemse 50.58, 3 Vladislav Shiriaev
(Russia) 50.59
3000m: 1 Robert Mudogo (Kenya) 8:05.33, 2 Waddon Niewoudt 8:06.40, 3 Solomon Nkambule
8:08.49
Discus: 1 Alexander Borischevski (Russia) 62.54, 2 Frantz Kruger 62.46, 3 Virgilius Alekna
61.89
Shot Put: 1 Burger Lambrecht 20.29, 2 Karel Potgeiter 19:43, 3 Johannes van Wyk 17.90
WOMEN
100m: 1 Heide Seyerling 11.44, 2 Surita Febbraio 11.49, 3
Mia Prinsloo 11.96
200m: 1 Heide Seyerling 22.90, 2 Karen Shinkins (Ireland) 23.32, 3 Clara Sheeny (Ireland)
23.58
400m A: 1 Olga Kolyarova (Russia) 51.58, 2 Susanna Holzhausen 52.54, 3 Tatyana Chebykina
(Russia) 52.96
800m: 1 Lwiza John (Tanzania) 2:09.24, 2 Ludmila Formanova (Czech Republic) 2:0987, 3
Julia Sakara (Zimbabwe) 2:10.54
1500m: 1 Rene Kalmer 4:23.17, 2 Willemien Chanquin 4:26.40, 3 Sonica de Villiers 4:27.22
Long Jump: 1 Charlene Lawrence 6.36, 2 Liesel Heyneke 6.23, 3 Delia Visser 6.17
High Jump: 1 Hestrie Cloete 1.85 ,2 Marisca Gertenbach 1.80, 3 Phillipa Erasmus 1.75
