Big PB for Tshamano Setone in Port Elizabeth (© Mark Ouma)
– Distance runner Tshamano Setone and throwers Robert Oosthuizen, Elizna Naude, and Orazio Cremona were convincing winners at the opening of the Yellow Pages series in Port Elizabeth on Friday (19).
This first of six meets in the series offers South Africans ample opportunity to claim a place on the national team for the Africa Senior Championships in Nairobi Kenya in July. South Africans aim to top the medal table at the championships for the fourth consecutive outing.
Massive improvement for Setone at 5000m
In a marked departure from tradition, the long distance runners went hard into the race from the start. Xolisa Tysali, Setone and Stephen Mokoka taking turn setting a strong pace. Elroy Galant, Gladwin Mzazi, and Lungisa Mdedelwa formed a chase group that kept in touch with the top three.
At the bell it was clear that victory would go to who had the best finishing speed. Galant made his move of the back straight overtaking Setone. However he paid dearly on the home straight as Setone came back to snatch victory with 20m to the finish line.
What’s more Setone clocked a lifetime best of 13:25.51. His previous best was 13:49 at this meet in 2007. Galant (13:25.88) was runner up while Mokoka (13:27.22) was third. Such was the pace in the race that 11 of the 24 who completed that race set personal bests.
“I am glad that each of us stuck to our plan to run a fast race. My aim this year was to run a sub 13:30. Now I have to go back and set new targets,” says Setone.
“I have improved my best by over 20 seconds from the 13:59.25 at the 2009 World Student Games in Belgrade, Serbia. Yet I have not started real speed work which will enable me improve my time,” says Galant.
“We took turn helping to keep the pace strong. This is the only way we can improve our times. I think we are going to run much faster this year,” Mokoka chipped in.
One gets the impression these athletes have some surprises up their sleeves. None of the top five would venture to suggest who would be the first to break Shadrack Hoff’s national record of 13:14.16 which has stood since 1995.
Oosthuizen pleased with 82m season opener
Having already won the event, Robert Oosthuizen looked much more relaxed as he launched his run up for the last javelin throw of the day. The fans seemed to hold their breath as the implement flew throw the sky before plunging 82.96m away. Then came a thunderous applause from the stands.
“I came here expecting to win. But I surely did not anticipate victory with such a huge throw in the first competition of the year,” says Oosthuizen. The 2006 Beijing World Junior Champion wants to make up for missing the last the Africa Senior championships in Addis Ababa Ethiopia because of an Achilles injury. “I aim to throw consistently above 82m. That gives me the confidence to go for a big throw in Nairobi.”
Naude begins quest for fourth straight continental Discus Throw title
Elizna Naude produced an inspiring 60.94m effort throw in the women’s Discus Throw to signal her intent to retain her African Championship title in Nairobi. She has been the continent’s finest women’s discus thrower in 2004 (Brazzaville), 2006 (Mauritius) and 2008 (Addis Ababa). “This year I and injury free which is very important. So my main focus is to throw further and further,” says Naude.
Cremona takes close Shot Put battle
Perhaps the meets biggest surprises came in the men’s shot put. 21-year-old Orazio Cremona heaved the implement to personal best of 19.29m. His previous best was 19.12m.
“I have trained well in the pre-season and expected a good throw. Now I have to stay focussed as there are so many guys here to keep me on my toes,” says Orazio who was a silver medallist at the 2007 Africa Junior Championships in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
His concerns are well founded as Burger Lambrecht who has come out of retirement was runner up in 19.20m. “To achieve this in my first meet in five years is astonishing. I think there is more in the tank,” says Lambrecht.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
