By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Caption: Viwe Jingqi seen running to her women’s U18 200m national record, adding to her three U18 women’100m s national records she set the previous day at the ASA U16 (Sub-Youth), U18 (Youth) and U20 (Junior) T&F National Championships at NWU Mc Arthur Athletics Stadium, Potchefstroom which ended on Saturday. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.
Sprint sensation Viwe Jingqi ended a ground-breaking week with another spectacular performance, and Ashley Erasmus shone in the field, with both athletes delivering record-breaking results on the third and final day of the ASA National U16, U18 and U20 Track And Field Championships at NWU McArthur Athletics Stadium in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
Jingqi, who shattered the SA U18 (youth) record three times on Thursday with her best being 11.22, scorched home in 23.03* in the U20 (junior) 200m final on Saturday to break one of the longest standing records in the sport. The 17 year-old athlete ripped 0.27 off the national youth mark of 23.30 which had been set by Evette de Klerk in Tshwane in April 1982.
Behind, Jingqi’s Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) teammate, Precious Molepo did well to grab the 200m silver medal in 23.97.
Erasmus, meanwhile, was on fire, winning double gold in the U18 girls shot put and discus throw final.
The 16 year-old athlete from Mpumalanga landed the shot at 18.15m*, nearly three metres clear of her nearest opponent, as she obliterated the SA youth record of 17.52m which was set by Lezaan Jordaan in Germiston in April 2012. Erasmus also took the top step on the podium in the U18 girls discus, producing a personal best of 51.77m.
Sending the discus sailing six metres further than anyone else in the field, her winning effort was just 33 centimetres short of Simone du Toit’s national youth best (52.10m) which has stood for 17 years.
After winning the U18 Girls 400m final earlier in the day, Molepo, who finished fifth in the 400m final at last year’s U20 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi at the age of 16, cemented her status as one of the country’s most promising athletes, coasting to the national youth one-lap title in 53.70.’
In the U20 men’s 200m final, Benjamin Richardson (AGN) also wrapped up an impressive sprint double, winning gold in the half-lap final in 20.75, adding to the 100m title he won earlier in the week. Neo Mosebi of KwaZulu-Natal put up another fight, but he settled for the silver medal again in 20.95, with Lucky Molenyane grabbing bronze for Athletics Free State (AFS) in 21.02.
Among the other highlights on the final day of competition, Lythe Pillay successfully defended his South African U20 400m title, winning the junior men’s one-lap final in 46.58.
National senior 1 500m champion Danielle Verster added the U20 women’s 800m crown to the junior 1 500m title she won the day before, taking the two-lap race in 2:09.27.
Athletics Gauteng North finished top of the table at the three-day national championships, raking in a total of 116 medals (46 golds, 43 silver and 27 bronze) across all three age groups.
Central Gauteng Athletics finished second with 53 medals (17 gold, 15 silver and 21 bronze), and Athletics Free State ended third among the 17 competing provinces with a total of 37 medals (13 gold, 8 silver and 16 bronze).
“This has been an absolutely successful championship. It was amazing! Not even the rain on the last day could dampen the determination of the athletes who were really out to make it all special. It’s a pity that the wet weather affected most from breaking records but we take pride that national records were achieved each day.
“We came to this championship with high expectations on performance and that is what was achieved. We are proud of all our 17 provinces, athletes, coaches, the host province, the Municipality of Potchefstroom and all others who made this event a success, “said James Moloi, the President of ASA.’
* Record is subject to standard ratification procedures.
What Athletes said on final day of youth juniors in Potch.
Saturday 2 April 2022 was Day 3 which also marked the end of the ASA U16 (Sub-Youth), U18 (Youth) and U20 Junior T&F National Championships which was held at NWU Mc Arthur Athletics Stadium, Potchefstroom. And this is what the athletes said.
Viwe Jingqi: Girls U18 200m champion and new record (23.03)
I did not pay too much attention to the weather and did what I came here to do. The only thing I had on my mind was to push through the line but I did not expect to break another record. I dedicate this win to my coach Paul Gorries and my parents. Breaking four records, three in the 100m and one in the 200m, has not sunk in yet. I want to go home and reflect on my impressive achievement.
Carise van Rooyen: Girls U16 1500m Steeplechase champion and new record (05:19:97).
I broke the SA record and I am super excited. It rained hard and affected my performance. I did not warm up properly and it was wet and cold. I am happy with the national title. My dream is to represent my country at the Olympic Games in the future.
Bradley Nkoana: Boys U18 200m champion (21.21)
I came here to win two medals and I achieved it. There was a hump in my lane and I stumbled a bit but won my event. I want to go to the World Junior Championships to represent my country with pride. I have a mindset of a champion.
Lythe Pillay: Men U20 400m champion (46.58)
The weather played a role and prevented me from breaking the SA record. It made the track heavy and I was cold warming up. I had four weeks to prepare after I contracted Covid-19. I wanted to run a faster time and I plan to defend my title at the senior national championships in Cape Town. The plan was to come here and get it done. The goal is to peak at the World Junior Championships in Cali, Colombia. I finished fourth at the World Championships in Kenya last year and I have a score to settle in Cali.
Precious Molepo: Girls U18 400m champion (53.70)
The plan was to break the SA U18 record of 52.88, but the weather prevented me. I will go to the senior national championships to try and break the record. I qualified for the World Junior Championships in the 400m. My PB is 53.26 and I will not stop until I break the SA record.
Benjamin Richardson: Men U20 200m champion (20:75)
I won the 100m yesterday and I won the 200m today. It was raining and made it hard to execute the properly but then I also came to qualify for the world juniors in both events which is what I did and I’m going to Columbia. Going home with two golds which is what I also did last year, so I’m happy I defended my titles.
Clemond Nel: Boys U18 400m hurdles champion (53:16)
I do not deserve to win the title because my competitor fell toward the finish line and I capitalised on his slip. I feel sorry for him. I am happy and sad, and I should have finished in second place. I did not expect to win the race. I have a lot to work on and I will run in the Grand Prix in Germiston.
Danielle Verster: Women U20 800m champion (2:09:27)
I am happy with the win and to do it in front of my home crowd. I won the 1500m and 800m gold medals at home at a track that I am used to running. I want to thank my father and coach Jean Verster. It was cold, and it affected my time.
James Ncube: Men U20 800m champion (1:52:74).
I am unhappy with the time and failed to run the qualifying time. I needed to run 1:51 and missed it. It was a fast race and it worked for me. I gave it my all and any of the top three could have won the race. My friends and family were here to watch me. Running in front of a crowd felt good and motivated me.
Lee Sue Nyathi: Girls U16 5000m race walk champion (25:42:81)
I am delighted with the win and I did not expect the title, but I fought and did it. The weather conditions were beautiful and made things easier for me because I struggle to breathe in the heat. I am happy with my time and it is my personal best. I will put in more hard work and watch how the seniors do it.
Enoch Bokaba: Men U20 3000m steeplechase champion (09:25:80)
I am not happy with the time as I was targeting a sub-9. I will run at the senior national championships in Cape Town to improve the time I want. I was ready at 9am, but they moved our race by 30 minutes because of the rain. I need to run 09:08 to qualify for the World Junior Championships in Colombia later this year.
Sfiso Makolomakwa: Boys U18 3000m champion (08:47:63)
I am happy because this is my first title since I started athletics in 2013 and it is also my first top-three finish since I started. I dedicate this win to my mother. I hope to grow in confidence and go on to achieve bigger things. I am in Grade 12 at Prestige College in Tshwane and hope to earn a scholarship to university next year to further my studies and athletics.
Keotshepile Maleho: Boys U16 3000m champion (09:16:58)
I am happy and deserve to be the champion. I finished second with a time of 04:02 in the 1500m and won a silver and now gold medal. I want to thank my coach Samuel Sepeng. The goal is to dominate the middle distance.
Niel van der Merwe: Men U20 3000m champion (08:19:80)
It was a great race and I stayed with the group until the bell rang. I missed the qualifying time by four seconds, but I ran my BP. The weather slowed me down.
Khunedi Mashishi: Girls U18 2000m Steeplechase champion (07:09:52).
I am not happy with my time as I wanted sub-7 minutes, but the rain made it hard for me. It was slippery, and I would have fallen if I ran faster. I dedicate the win to my late mother. She died when I was eight years old and I am 17 years now. I hope she is smiling down on me from heaven. I want to thank my father and sister for always supporting me.
Rico Coetzer: Boys U16 1500m champion (04:00.05)
I wanted to run a faster time, but I got sick three days before the race.
I am satisfied with my performance, but I wanted more. I did not run a qualifying time. Next year I hope to get it right. I learned a lot from the championships. I am getting ready for Cross Country season.
Ethan Olivier: Boys U18 triple jump champion (15.79m)
I qualified for the World Junior Championships in Colombia later this year. I am happy and wanted to break the SA record of 16.03m and will try in the future. I gave it my all and was satisfied with my effort.
Karmen Fouche: Women U20 long jump champion (6.24m)
I am happy with my performance, and it was a struggle at the beginning with two no jumps. But I recovered and pulled through to win the national title in my fourth jump. I qualified for the World Junior Championships in Colombia. I am excited and cannot wait. I competed against myself and there was no competition for me here. I am a local girl and will do the Grand Prix here in Potch with the seniors next week. It felt good to be cheered by the home crowd.