Tuesday, 31 March 2009
South Africa’s youth eye Südtirol glory
Jacque de Swart wins the 400m at the 2009 South Africa Youth champs (Mark Ouma)
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Tshwane, South Africa - Annemie Smith (Hammer Throw) and Willem le Roux (Decathlon) set national records, as sprinter Tshegofatso Meshoe sparkled at the South Africa Youth, Junior and Under-23 Championships in Tshwane.
The event was a qualifier for the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships in Südtirol, Italy from 8-12 July, the Africa Junior Championships in Bata Equatorial Guinea from 2-5 July, and the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany, 15 – 23 August.
Youth Champs
Enjoying a rich vein of form 16-year-old Smith broke new ground with a winning 54.21m in the youth women’s Hammer Throw contest. Besides improving on her personal best of 52.08, she erased the national Youth (50.60) and Junior (53.97) records established last year by Nadia Botha and Marizette Badenhorst respectively.
“This year I have improved my throws by at least ten metres. After recovering from a back injury mid last year, I train three hour a day four times a week and it is paying off. Now I hope to be among the medallists at the World Youth Championships,” said Smith.
On the track Jacques de Swart powered his way to a 46.82sec personal best in the Youth 400m final. Although he later finished a lowly seventh in the 200m finals, De Swart was not disappointed.
“I run the 200m for speed and after so many heats I was a bit drained. With my coach (Johannes ‘JJ’ Smith) by my side I am sure I can maintain and improve my form going into the World Youth Champs,” said De Swart.
16-year-old Melissa Harmse (1:00.37) ran a lifetime best in the girls 400m Hurdles. Other notable performances came from discus throwers Burger Charles (56.64) and Charl Grobler (56.62); Sprinters Gideon Trotter (10.58) and Collin Richmond (10.60) in 100m, Sean de Klerk (21.29) and Mzwandile Quashani (21.30) in 200 as well as Justine Palframan (23.90) in the girls 200m; Marine Boulle (Mauritius) won the heptathlon with 4049 points.
Junior champs (Under-20)
Willem le Roux amassed 6623 points to better the South Africa Junior Decathlon record. The old mark was Tinus de Bruin 2005 Africa Junior medal winning effort of 6355.
Defending 200 champion Patrick Vosloo pulled-off a double in the 100m (10.51) and 200m (21.09) as did women’s middle distance newcomer Caster Semenya in 800 (2:02.04) and 1500m (4:25.75). Shame Rahme (5.00) excelled in Pole Vault, and Tazmin Brits (53.76) in women’s Javelin Throw.
Perhaps the most improved performance came from hurdler Cornel Fredricks who won his first ever 110 Hurdles (13.91), before comfortably winning the 400m Hurdles (50.64). A University of Stellenbosch student , Fredericks’ confident is on a high since clinching a silver medal at the senior championships in a career best of 50.25 in Stellenbosch a fortnight ago.
“Victory at the Junior Championships is a warm up for the University Games in Stellenbosch next weekend. Stronger opponents like Louis van Zyl aiming to qualify for the World Champions give me hope that I will break the 50 seconds barrier running in my own backyard next weekend,” said Fredericks.
Under-23 Champs
Sprinters Tshegofatso Meshoe and Kagiso Kumbane renewed their on track rivalry from the national junior championship three years ago. This time they shared the spoils in the 100 and 200m. Kumbane (10.45) prevailed over Meshoe (10.54) in 100m, before the positions were reversed in 200m with Meshoe achieving a lifetime best of 20.73 to Kumbane’s 20.89.
“I was out of action for two years because of an ankle injury. Now I am back and hope to qualify for Berlin. I am sure I can run a sub 20.5 this year,” said Meshoe.
All Africa Games 100m silver medallist Nombulelo Mkenku dominated the women’s 100 (11.63) and 200m (23.63), as newcomer Ranti Dikgale (47.00) announced his arrival on the national stage in the men’s 400m.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
The event was a qualifier for the 6th IAAF World Youth Championships in Südtirol, Italy from 8-12 July, the Africa Junior Championships in Bata Equatorial Guinea from 2-5 July, and the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Berlin, Germany, 15 – 23 August.
Youth Champs
Enjoying a rich vein of form 16-year-old Smith broke new ground with a winning 54.21m in the youth women’s Hammer Throw contest. Besides improving on her personal best of 52.08, she erased the national Youth (50.60) and Junior (53.97) records established last year by Nadia Botha and Marizette Badenhorst respectively.
“This year I have improved my throws by at least ten metres. After recovering from a back injury mid last year, I train three hour a day four times a week and it is paying off. Now I hope to be among the medallists at the World Youth Championships,” said Smith.
On the track Jacques de Swart powered his way to a 46.82sec personal best in the Youth 400m final. Although he later finished a lowly seventh in the 200m finals, De Swart was not disappointed.
“I run the 200m for speed and after so many heats I was a bit drained. With my coach (Johannes ‘JJ’ Smith) by my side I am sure I can maintain and improve my form going into the World Youth Champs,” said De Swart.
16-year-old Melissa Harmse (1:00.37) ran a lifetime best in the girls 400m Hurdles. Other notable performances came from discus throwers Burger Charles (56.64) and Charl Grobler (56.62); Sprinters Gideon Trotter (10.58) and Collin Richmond (10.60) in 100m, Sean de Klerk (21.29) and Mzwandile Quashani (21.30) in 200 as well as Justine Palframan (23.90) in the girls 200m; Marine Boulle (Mauritius) won the heptathlon with 4049 points.
Junior champs (Under-20)
Willem le Roux amassed 6623 points to better the South Africa Junior Decathlon record. The old mark was Tinus de Bruin 2005 Africa Junior medal winning effort of 6355.
Defending 200 champion Patrick Vosloo pulled-off a double in the 100m (10.51) and 200m (21.09) as did women’s middle distance newcomer Caster Semenya in 800 (2:02.04) and 1500m (4:25.75). Shame Rahme (5.00) excelled in Pole Vault, and Tazmin Brits (53.76) in women’s Javelin Throw.
Perhaps the most improved performance came from hurdler Cornel Fredricks who won his first ever 110 Hurdles (13.91), before comfortably winning the 400m Hurdles (50.64). A University of Stellenbosch student , Fredericks’ confident is on a high since clinching a silver medal at the senior championships in a career best of 50.25 in Stellenbosch a fortnight ago.
“Victory at the Junior Championships is a warm up for the University Games in Stellenbosch next weekend. Stronger opponents like Louis van Zyl aiming to qualify for the World Champions give me hope that I will break the 50 seconds barrier running in my own backyard next weekend,” said Fredericks.
Under-23 Champs
Sprinters Tshegofatso Meshoe and Kagiso Kumbane renewed their on track rivalry from the national junior championship three years ago. This time they shared the spoils in the 100 and 200m. Kumbane (10.45) prevailed over Meshoe (10.54) in 100m, before the positions were reversed in 200m with Meshoe achieving a lifetime best of 20.73 to Kumbane’s 20.89.
“I was out of action for two years because of an ankle injury. Now I am back and hope to qualify for Berlin. I am sure I can run a sub 20.5 this year,” said Meshoe.
All Africa Games 100m silver medallist Nombulelo Mkenku dominated the women’s 100 (11.63) and 200m (23.63), as newcomer Ranti Dikgale (47.00) announced his arrival on the national stage in the men’s 400m.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF