Staff Reporter.
Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.
Kenyan athlete Ferdinand Omanyala lived up to the hype on Wednesday night, rocketing to a convincing victory in the men’s 100m sprint, while hurdles specialist Zeney van der Walt flaunted her flat speed in the women’s 400m dash at the first leg of the ASA Grand Prix Series at Tuks Athletics Stadium in Tshwane.
Closing out the meeting, African record holder Omanyala won the short sprint in 10.12 seconds, running into a -1.2m/s headwind, finishing well clear of South African teenager Benjamin Richardson who clocked 10.33.
Hurdles specialist Van der Walt, was superb in the women’s flat 400m sprint, charging to an impressive personal best in 50.81.
In the women’s 100m race, Phindile Kubheka stormed to victory in 11.81, narrowly holding off Reabetswe Moloi who grabbed the runner-up spot in 11.86.
Qatari athlete Abderrahman Samba took the men’s 400m contest in 45.37; Marione Fourie coasted to a comfortable win in 13.01 in the women’s 100m hurdles and pre-race favourite Prudence Sekgodiso claimed victory in the women’s 800m race in 2:02.41 ahead of Oratile Nowe who set a Botswana national record of 2:02.85
Among the field events highlights, Egypt’s five-time African Championships medallist Mostafa El Gamal won the men’s hammer throw with a 76.87m heave; Thapelo Monaiwa of Botswana took the men’s long jump with a leap of 8.12m, Tadeas Prochazka of the Czech Republic won the women’s shot put with an effort that landed at 18.21m. Local favourite Jo-Ane van Dyk triumphed in the women’s javelin with a best throw of 55.60m and Yolandi Stander took the women’s discus event with a 58.30m throw.
The second leg of the ASA Grand Prix series will be held at University of Johannesburg Athletics Stadium on Wednesday, 19 April.
Meanwhile a full strength national team has been announced for the CAA African U18 and U20 Championships to be held in Ndola, Zambia from 29 April to 3 May 2023.
The men’s U20 team features the likes of World U20 Championships silver medallist Brian Raats, who will turn out in the high jump and long jump prospect Asande Mthembu, who has already landed at 8.08m this season.
Among the women, Ashley Erasmus will be eager to showcase her form at international level after winning double gold in the shot put and discus throw at the ASA U20 Championships in Pietermaritzburg last month and going on to take the ASA senior shot put title in Potchefstroom.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.