By Mark Ouma for IAAF
16 February 2001 – Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Burger Lambrechts set a new Africa record while Stefan Louw edged closer to his Namibian record in the long jump at the ABSA track and field meeting in Port Elizabeth tonight.
Competing in only his second meeting of the year Lambrechts set a new African record with a heave of 20.90 in his opening attempt at the shot put. He smashed Jan Pienaar’s South Africa record of 20.60 set in 1990. Likewise, he erased the previous Africa record of 20.76, set by Ahmed Kamel Shatta(Egypt)in 1988.
"I did not expect the kind of results l have had at both here and in Potchefstroom (20.53) last Monday. Two months ago l had some back injury. After that l came down with a bout of malaria. Throwing over 20 metres has been a surprise.
"With the World Indoor Championships coming next month l hope l am selected to represent the country. The medallists at previous World Indoor Championships have throw between 20.50 and 21 metres. So l think l have a god chance of winning a medal if selected to represent South Africa," said a delighted Lambrechts. The global event will run from 9-11 March in Lisbon Portugal.
Louw comfortably won the long jump with a leap of 8.11, Arnaud Casquette (Mauritius) was a distant runner up with a 7.42 effort. Louw’s decision to relocate in Africa after a short stay in San Diego, Califonia is clearly paying off.
"Initially l thought training in the United States was going to enable me improve my jumping. I was wrong. Since setting up my base in South Africa, l have trained better. I hope l can improve my national record to over 8.40m," said Louw. He appears to be aiming to better the African record of 8.46m which is held by Cheikh Tidane Toure (Senegal).
Olympic finalists Glody Dube (Botswana), together with South Africans Heide Seyerling and Hezekiel Sepeng, emerged winners in their respective events. Dube won a tactical but slow 800 metres with a time of 1:48.36. Seyerling clocked 51.43 seconds in her first 400 metres since the Olympic finals. Sepeng was timed 3:43.34 in the men’s 1500 metres.
Winner of the men’s 10000m, Hendrik Ramaala says the weather impeded his quest for a national record. "The chilly windy conditions on the back straight made the race uncomfortable at times. Well next week in Stellenbosch l will aim for a sub 13:25, if the weather holds up," said Ramaala.
Frenchman David Chaussinaud maintained his winning form in the men’s hammer throw with a 78.71m effort. British Olympian Lorraine Shaw renewed her acquaintance with Katalin Divos in the women’s event. Shaw carried with a throw of 64.59, to Divos’ 61.92.
SELECTED RESULTS
Note: All athletes are South African unless where mentioned.
MEN
100m 1 Leroy Newton 10.51 2 Bradley Agrew 10.52 3 Sherwin Vries (Namibia) 10.55
200m 1 Paul Gorries 20.89 2 Josef van der Linde 21.09 3 Leroy Newton 21.10
400m 1 Hendrik Mokganyetsi 46.06 2 Marcus la Grange 46.24 3 Jopie van Oudtshoorn 46.76
400m Hurdles 1 Llewellyn Herbert 49.91 2 Willie Smith (Namibia) 50.47 3 Martin Willemse 50.70
800m 1 Glody Dube (Botswana) 1:48.36 2 Werner Botha 1:48.91 3 Shaun Abrahams 1:49.19
1500m 1 Hezekiel Sepeng 3.43.34 2 Esau Faro 3:43.96 3 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi 3:44.05
10,000m 1 Hendrik Ramaala 27:38.36 2 Shadrack Hoff 27:48.65 3 Simon Mpholo 28:08.92
Long Jump 1 Stefan Louw (Namibia) 8.11 2 Arnaud Casquette (Mauritius) 7.42 3 Kobus Vosloo
Javelin 1 Marius Corbett 77.79 2 Mark Roberson (Britain) 76.61 3 Hardus Pienaar 76.53
Discus 1 Frantz Kruger 63.17 2 Frits Potgieter 60.15 3 Hannes Hopley 56.21
Shot Put 1 Burger Lambrechts 20.90 ( Africa record) 2 Karel Potgieter 18.97 3 Frits Potgieter 17.09
Hammer 1 David Chaussinand (France) 78.71 2 Chris Harmse 75.34 3 Zsolt Nemeth (Hungary) 74.89
WOMEN
100m (0.0) 1 Shade Ogundemi (Nigeria) 12.01 2 Rita Onyebuchi (Nigeria) 12.16 3 Shane Smith 12.60
400m 1 Heide Seyerling 51.43 2 Helen Frost (Britain) 53.95 3 Shade Ogundemi (Nigeria) 54.49
1500m 1 Rene Kalmer 4:11.04 2 Anna Ndege (Tanzania) 4:12.28 3 Agnes Samaria (Namibia)4:14.40
5000m 1 Carlien Cornelissen 16:16.70 2 Azwindini Lukhwareni 17:59.65 3 Dina Phalula 17:21.93
Hammer 1 Lorraine Shaw (Britain) 64.59 2 Katalin Divos (Hungary) 61.92 3 Elmarie Knoetzen 54.59
