Alwyn Myburgh en route to 400m victory in Secunda (© Adrian de Kock)
South Africans Alwyn Myburgh and Christine Ras, together with Dutchman Robert Lathouwers stole the limelight and got their seasons off to a promising start to the Yellow Pages Series staged in Secunda, South Africa, on Friday (25).
The six leg series constitutes South Africa’s premier track and field competition. It will lead to the Senior National Championships cum Olympic and Africa Championship Trials in March.
Myburgh’s early season focus on speed
An aggressive start and the pace set by teenager Siyabulelo Sinqe running in the outside lane combined to give Myburgh the edge to run the fastest 400m of his life. Drawn in lane two Myburgh made rapid progress over his opponents with just Sinqe ahead of him by 250m.
Myburgh was clearly in the lead on the home straight as Sinqe’s earlier bust begun taking a toll. Myburgh cross the finish line first in 46.2. Fellow hurdler Pieter de Viller (47.2) was runner up ahead of Germany’s Ruwen Faller. Fourth placed Sinqe (47.9) set a personal best.
“We South African always qualified in the 400m Hurdles early in the year,” Myburgh declared. “Later we get beaten at the main competitions of the year because we lack the basic speed. This time I am determined to change all that at the Beijing Olympics. If I get to improve national record along the way so much the better.”
To drive his point home the All Africa Games 400m hurdles silver medallist went on to win the 200m in 20.1 seconds. Jean du Randt (20.6), Sergio Mullin (20.8) and Sylvester Abrahams (21.0) followed in that order. Unfortunately, this superb performance cannot be recognised as a national record.
Myburgh is in shape to better Morne Nagel’s national 200m record of 20.13. However for unreported reasons on electronic timing system was not used; all track performances at the meet were measured using hand times.
Janice Joseph to focus on Long Jump
On the infield All Africa Games champions Janice Joseph sent a signal that she has some serious ambitions this year. In her first meet of the season she leaped to a distance of 6.50m in the Long Jump.
“No Heptathlon for me this year,” said Joseph, the African Champion in the seven-eventer. “I will concentrate on the Long Jump. Once I have qualified for the Olympics, I might do some sprinting just in case we have a chance of putting together a strong relay team for Beijing.”
800m PB for Lathouwers
Success at the meet was not limited to South African athletes. After running a conservative 53 seconds over the first lap, Robert Lathouwers (Netherlands) turned on the heat to claim victory in 800m in a career best of 1:46.7. Samson Ngoepe (1:47.3) and Johan Cronje (1:47.6) gave chase but failed to overcome the Dutchman.
“My warm weather training in Potchefstroom (South Africa) has paid off,” Lathouwers said. “This could be my best season ever.” I have bettered my personals best from 1:47.95. Now I am confident I can run 1:48.5 indoors when I get back to Rotterdam. My aim is to qualify for the World Indoor Championships in Valencia (Spain) in March.”
Elsewhere...
Christine Ras proved she is in the form of her life. She outpaced pre-race favourite Sune Labuschagne in the women’s 100m Hurdles, clocking 13.5 to Labuschagne’s 13.8.
“This is the best shape I have ever been in at this time of the year,” Ras said. My next goal is to lower my electric time personal best of 13.9. Then I will aim at qualifying for the Olympics.”
Other notable performances came from Estie Wittstock who clocked 11.1 and 22.6 in the women’s 100m and 200m respectively, and Dean Wick’s 10.3 in the men’s 100m. Other winners were Tshamano Setone (8:04.9) in the men’s 3000m and Lebohang Phalula (4:19.7) in the women’s 1500m.
Meanwhile a new generation of South African throwers are staking their place on the senior national stage. 18-year-old Orazio Cremora claimed victory in the men’s Shot Put with a heave of 18.85m and second place in his specialty the Discus Throw (51.67). Simone du Toit prevailed in the women’s Shot Put (16.02) and Discus (44.80).
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Click here for complete results
