Absa Track and Field Athletics Series Meet, Puk Mc Arthur Stadium, South Africa.
By Mark Ouma
Women athletes set three national records at the ABSA series track and field meeting staged at the PUK McArthur Stadium, Potchefstroom on Friday (February 5) night.
Aggressive front runner Lwiza John, 20, clocked 2 minutes 01,12 seconds (2.01.12) to win the 800m in a new Tanzania national record. She improves on her the record of 2.01.63 which she set during the Commonwealth Games in Kulala Lumpur, Malaysia last year. South Africa's Mari-Louis Hennings was second in a seasion best of 2.01.97, while Zimbabwe's Julia Sakara finished third in 2.03.70.
John's victory came as a relief as she has lost the first two races of the series in the last 50 metres of the race to Hennings. "My coach Morris Okinda, noticed that l had a weak finish and so we have been working on it for most of the week. I hope to try the 1500m during the Engen Summer series next month," said John.
"Since she has already qualified for the World Championships, we are using these races to give John more exposure. We are also here to give our South African counterparts competition, said Okinda.
Returning to athletics after a four year stint in weightlifting, Drienkie van Wyk set a new South Africa in the shot put with a heave of 17.38. Not only was this a massive improvement of her previous personal best of 15.02, but Van Wyks also erased the previous mark of 17.32 set in Johannesburg by Mariette van Heerden in 1990.
"I lost the passion for weightlifting and decided to return to athletics. Although my technique is a little rusty, l knew l could make a big throw purely on strength," said van Wyk.
Taking advantage of the blistering pace set by Germany's Malanie Seeger, Susan Vermeulen improved the South Africa 3000m walk record by more than a minute when she stopped the clock at 13 minutes 34.38 seconds (13.34.38). The old record of 14.53.2 was set in Durban by Susana Bingham.
German walkers set South African open records in both the men's and women's 3000m walk. Seeger set the women's Open record in a time of 13.27.84, while Mike Trautmann set the men's mark at 11.07.2.
Belgium sprinter Erik Wijmeersch pulled a double winning the 100 and 200m in 10.35 and 20.71 respectively. South Africans Johann Venter (10.37) and Matthew Quinn (10.40) were second a third in the shorter sprint, while Morne Nagel (20.72) and Quinn (20.95) gave chase in the 200m.
After comfortably winning the 400m hurdles in 48.83 seconds, Llewellyn Herbert said he is heading for Finland with a mission. "I will compete in the 300 metres hurdles in Tampere, Finland on February 9 with the sole purpose of breaking Dinsdale Morgan's world record in the 300m hurdles," said Herbert.
LEADING RESULTS
Note
1. All contestants are South African unless where indicated.
2. More than the top three finishers are given in events where athletes where outstanding.
Men
100m:1. Eric Wijmeersch (Belgium) 10.35, 2. Johann Venter 10.37, 3. Matthew Quinn 10.40, 4.Paul Gorries 10.46, 5. Morne Nagel 10.51, 6. Jean Francois Ngapout (Cameroon) 10.52, 7. Bradley Agnew 10.54, 8. Lawrence Nkosi 10.66, 200m:1. Eric Wijmeersch (Belgium) 20.71, 2. Morne Nagel 20.72, 3. Matthew Quinn 20.95, 4. Shaun Powell 21.11, 5. Igor Kovac 21.13, 6. Jean Francis Ngapout (Cameroon) 21.16, 400m:1. Jopie van Oudtshoorn 45.61, 2. Arnaud Malherbe 45.93, 3. Adriaan Botha 46.07, 4. Tshepo Thobelangope 46.57, 5. Louis Rehl 46.83, 6. Lukas Richter 46.94, 110m hurdles: 1. Igor Kovac (Slovakia) 13.48, 2. Shaun Bownes 13.68, 3. Sven Pieters (Belgium) 13.70, 400m hurdles:1. Llewellyn Herbert 48.85, 2. Hennie Botha 49.91, 3. Ferrins pieterse 50.10, 4. Egils Tebelis (Latvia) 50.26, 5. Mario Toerien 50.64, 6. Martin Willemse 50.84, 400m hurdles (b): 1. Willem Romijn 52.24, 800m:1. Jurgen kotze 1.46.94, 2. Meyer Kotze 1.46.95, 3. Gideon van Oudtshoorn 1.47.03, 4. Hakim Ali (Tunisia) 1.47.35, 800m (b):1. Isaiah Nkune 1.48.68, 2. Nick Claasen 1.50.26, 1500m: 1. Jacques van Rensburg 3.49.02, 2. Alister Cragg 3.50.07, 3. Henry Maruping 3.51.13, 1500m (b) 1. Jacque van Rensburg 3.49.02, 2. Alister Cragg 3.50.07, 3. Henry Maruping 3.51.13, 3000m: 1. Richard Mavuso 8.06.99, 2. Patrick Koatsane 8.09.18, 3. Meshack Mogotsi 8.17.11, 3000m walk:1. Mike Trautmann (Germany) 11.07.2 (South Africa Open Record), 2. Hatem Ghoula (Tunisia) 11.34.3, 3. Dennis Trautmann (Germany) 11.47.3, Long Jump: 1. Eric Nijs (Belgium) 7.82, 2. Martin McClintock 7.40, 3. Chalrie Strohmeyer 7.28, High Jump: 1. Daniel Kuhn 2.15, 2. Fana Mtshatsheni 2.15, 3. Malcolm Hendrick 2.10, Pole Vault: 1. Okkert Brits 5.75, 2. Riana Oberholzer 4.90, 3. Fanie Jacobs 4.90, Shot put :1. Burger Lambrechts 19.39, 2. Karel Potgieter 18.71, 3. Cor booysen 18.41, Discuss: 1. Frantz Kruger 64.17, 2. Alexandr Borischevski (Russia) 59.69, 3. Martin Swart 59.31,
Women
100m: 1. Wendy Hartman 11.22, 2. Heide Seyerling 11.46, 3. Susanna Johansson 11.87, 400m: 1. Heide Seyerling 51.82, 2. Judit Szekeres (Hungary) 52.47, 3. Susanna Johansson 53.04, 4. Surita Febrrario 53.19, 5. Adri de Jongh 53.64, 100m hurdles: 1. Corien Botha 13.52, 2. Maralize Fouche 13.76, 3. Arnell Jacobs 14.15, 800m: 1. Lwiza John (Tanzania (New National Record) 2.01.12, 2. Mari-Louise Henning 2.01.97, 3. Julia Sakara (Zimbabwe) 2.03.70, 4. Sandra Stals (Belgium) 2.04.29, 5.marinas Anisimova (Russia) 2.05.55 3000m: 1. Carlien Cornelissen 9.19.08, 2. Yolandi Buitendag 9.28.64, 3. Zena Wilsnach 9.44.30, 3000m walk:1. Malanie Seeger (Germany) 13.27.84 (South Africa Open Record), 2. Susan Vermeulen 13.34.38 (South Africa Record), 3. Barabara Nell (South Africa) 14.34.62, Triple Jump: 1. Gundega Sproge (Latvia) 14.22, 2. Virge Naeris (Estonia) 13.65, 3. Charmaine Barnard 12.78, High Jump: 1. Herstrie Strobeck-Cloete 1.85, 2. Phillipa Erasmus 1.80, 3. Nicolize Steyn 1.80, Shot Put: 1. Drienkie van Wyk 17.38 (South Africa National Record), 2. Maranelle du Toit 15.74, 3. Veronica Abrahamse 15.67, 4. Nkiru Ojiego (Nigeria) 14.76, Javelin (with newly modified implement): 1. Nikola Tomeckova (Czech Republic) 60.92, 2. Rhona dwinger 51.09, 3. Liezel Roux 47.45
