Staff Reporter.
Two national records tumbled on the third and final day of the ASA U16, U18 and U20 Track and Field Championships, with South Africa’s most promising young athletes showcasing their abilities across a range of disciplines at Msunduzi Athletics Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.
Long jump prodigy Temoso Masikane, representing Athletics North West North (ANWN), launched a 7.93m leap to shatter the SA boys U18 record, adding 11 centimetres to the previous mark of 7.82m which had been held by the legendary Khotso Mokoena since 2002.
He completely dominated the final of his event, with only Sandiso Jekem, an Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) athlete competing as an individual, managing to join him beyond the eight-metre barrier. Jekem secured the silver medal with a best jump of 7.23m.
Later, closing out the championships in style, the AGN team broke the national record in the girls U18 4x400m relay event. Zante van der Merwe, Tumi Ramokgopa, Arrette Burger and Colene Scheepers combined well to clock 3:42.36, charging to an impressive victory. They finished well clear of the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) quartet who clocked 3:54.02 for the silver medal.
There were also some spectacular results produced in other events, despite the hot conditions.
In the men’s U20 long jump, rising AGN star Asande Mthembu displayed his class by landing at 8.08m to win gold. He did not have it all his own way, however, with Samkelo Dlamini of Athletics Free State (AFS) earning silver (7.97m) and Reagan April of Athletics Central North West (ACNW) taking bronze (7.88m) in a tightly fought final.
In other field events, Danie Strooh of Limpopo Athletics (LIMA) won the men’s U20 discus throw with a superb 62.94m heave, after an exciting contest which saw Juan Marais (BOLA) earning the silver medal (61.85m) and Righardt Stander (ACNW) snatching bronze (60.67m).
Ashley Erasmus of Athletics Mpumalanga (AMPU) also had to work hard in the women’s U20 shot put, winning gold with a best throw of 16.35m after holding off CGA athlete Zonica Lindeque (16.22m) by just 13 centimetres.
And Alicia Khunou (AGN) had to dig deep in the women’s U20 discus throw final, landing the implement at 49.32m to secure the national title in an event which saw three women clearing 48 metres. Logan Nienaber (AMPU) was second (48.27m) and Tyla Wasmuth (AFS) ended third (48.24m).
Completing the day’s action on the track in individual events, Armand van der Walt snatched victory in a thrilling battle for the men’s U20 200m title.
Van der Walt (AGN) stormed home in 20.76 seconds, edging out Karriem Abduraghmaan who secured the silver medal in 20.77.
“The race didn’t really go according to plan, but as part of the bigger picture it was important just to win this race, so it wasn’t about the time,” Van der Walt said.
“From the start I knew my last 100m was going to be better, so I just kept focused on that to win the race, which is a big thing for me.”
In the women’s U20 200m final, Kaylee le Roux bounced back from a knee injury to win gold in 24.34, with Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) teammate Kayla la Grange taking the runner-up spot in 24.49.
“It wasn’t the time we were looking for, but coming back after not knowing if I was going to compete this season (due to injury), I’m glad I was able to show that even the underdog can fight until the end. It feels amazing,” La Grange said.
Bayanda Walaza (CGA) won the boys U18 half-lap sprint in 21.10 and Chane Vermeulen (CGA) bagged the girls U18 title in 23.99, while Jaco van der Westhuyzen of Limpopo Athletics (LIMA) wrapped up a double by adding the 200m to the 100m on Day 1 by crossing the line in 22.16 in the boys U16 division and Milana Stickling of Boland Athletics (BOLA) won the girls U16 200m final in 24.89.
“We express a special tribute to our record breakers and to all those who set new personal bests. And to those who didn’t make it now, we would like to encourage them to note that their efforts are only the beginning of better things to come,” said James Moloi, the President of ASA.”
* All records are subject to standard ratification processes.
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.