Staff Reporter.
While some of the nation’s powerhouse provinces were expected to dominate on Friday, smaller regions were able to put up a strong fight in sprint relay finals, ensuring the country’s depth was placed on show on Day 1 of the ASA Relays and Multi-Events Championships at DP de Villiers Stadium in Sasolburg.
Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) were difficult to beat, as expected, winning four of the eight national 4x100m relay titles on offer on the opening day of competition.
The AGN squad won the U18 girls (47.43 seconds) and boys (41.82) finals, as well as the U20 women’s (47.43) and senior women’s (45.16) gold medals.
In the senior men’s 4x100m relay final, Athletics Central North West (ACNW) stunned their provincial opponents, dipping under 40 seconds to win the SA title in 39.80.
Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) won the U20 men’s final (41.31) and the U16 girls title (48.34), while Western Province Athletics (WPA) took gold in the Boys U16 contest (43.47).
In the only multi-discipline event which was completed on the opening day of competition at the two-day ASA Relays and Multi-Events Championships, Zelne Botha won gold for the CGA team in the U16 girls’ pentathlon after dominating all five disciplines.
The programme on Saturday’s second day of competition will include 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x400m and medley relay finals, as well as pentathlon, heptathlon and decathlon competitions across the range of age groups.
“It’s been a good first day,” said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. “Being an inaugural Championship, it was a quite a relief to see that athletes have been looking forward to it.
“We are looking forward to Day 2 where it will be an all-out war to prove which province is boss.”
Athletes Reactions:
Naim Jack: Boys 4x100m relay winner (43.47)
It was a great experience because it was the first time I competed in the relays. I am used to the individual 100m and 110m events. The start was good and the second taker was fantastic. The third taker did even better and I finished it off. I stressed so much before the race. But we won the race in the end and I learned about the power of teamwork.
Chederick van Wyk: senior 4x100m relay winner (39.80)
We represented the Central North West with aplomb. We are happy because we came here looking for a sub-40 and we got it. We had pretty good execution. It started with a good run by the first runner who did his job well. We were not good with the handover and we must work on it. The execution was perfect. The benefit of doing the relay is to get that of the USA and the Jamaicans. This competition is good for South African athletes and it will help us with the confidence to compete with the rest of the world.
Charlize Eilerd: Senior Women’s 4x100m relay winner (45.16)
I won for Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) and we are happy with our performance. It went pretty well since we got together at the warm-up area. We did not practice and it went pretty smoothly. It was a big win for us. I think since athletics is an individual sport, it is good for us to get to run as a team and put AGN on the map. We have to encourage the relays because we have athletes with a lot of potential in South Africa. It would be good for AGN to keep on working hard on relays.
Bokamoso Shabangu: U18 men’s 4x100m relay winner (41.82)
The wind was too much, but we tried to enjoy the race. The start was a bit tough, but at the back straight we did well to catch up, and the handover was amazing. We are not happy with the time and believe that we could have done better. If we do more races like this as a team, we will get better and run fast times.
Sibusiso Nxasana: men U20 4x100m relay second-place (41:50)
It was a stressful race for me and my teammates. We were under pressure but we will get there. We have too much time to practice before the event. We need to do the relay because it helps us learn from each other as a team. We need to focus on running as a team.
Jesse Perez: men 100m decathlon winner (10.81)
I felt alright and happy with the start of the decathlon. It involves 10 events over two days and five events on each day. Tomorrow I am doing the hurdles, pole vault, discus, javelin, and over the 1500m. I plan to win the competition.
Katleho Matsekane: Men’s senior decathlon sixth place (11.47)
I run for Athletics Gauteng North and compete in the decathlon, and my most anticipated event to try out is the pole vault. I started doing decathlon in 2017 and I was a 400m hurdler. But three days before the ASA Senior Track and Field championships, I told the coach I wanted to do the decathlon. I do 10 events over two days (including) a run, jump and throw, it’s crazy. It’s tiring to do ten events, but it’s a mental game. It’s a technical event and it requires discipline. I came fourth in the 100m I ran 11.47 a season-best. I was happy with the 100m and I expected a slower time. I got the confidence booster to tackle the other events.