Justine Robeson throws to victory in Potchefstroom (© Mark Ouma)
South Africans Justine Robbeson (Javelin Throw) and Alwyn Myburgh (400m Hurdles) qualified for the World Championships at the Yellow Pages Track and Field meet in PUK/McArthur Stadium, in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Each athletes returned home Rand 10,000 (USD 1388) richer. Athletics South Africa gives the bonus to any athlete who achieved the 'A' qualifying standard for the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan in August.
Robbeson prevails
The duel in the women's Javelin Throw between Africa champion and record holder Justin Robbesson and the Commonwealth Champion Sunette Viljoen did not live up to expectations as a close contest. After the first three attempts, Robbeson shortened her run up and reached a distance of 62.51m. This was more than ten metres better than Viljoen's best (52.25). Linda Smit was third in 50.99.
"At first I had a problem with the normal long run up as we have not worked on that in training this year. After talking with my coach (Tersis Liebenburg), I reverted to the short run up and that gave me the extra edged needed to qualify for the World Champions said Robbeson.
She admits that here is more in store. "This is just a warm up. The best has yet to come. Once I get a full run up I will surely improve my Africa record of 62.80," Robbeson assured.
Myburgh win 400m hurdles
Elsewhere on the track The men's 400m Hurdles lived up to its reputation of being the meet's premiere event. Alwyn Myburgh and Pieter de Villiers reached the home straight practically together as Pieter Koekemoer and Mozambique's Kurt Couto followed closely.
Unlike last week Myburgh held his own to edge Deviller and win in 49.16. De Villiers (49.43), Koekemoer (50.21), Couto (50.45) Llewellyn Herbert (50.84) and Holland's Thomas Kortbeek (51.29) followed.
"I felt rather tense before the race," said a delighted Myburgh. "I ran smoothly through the first four hurdles, which was crucial for me. It appears I have settled into my new hurdling stride pattern, and hat carried me through to achieve the qualifier."
"My goal this year is to improve on my personal best (48.09)," Myburgh continued. "If I can achieve that, then of course we can take a serious look at he national record (47.81). Records are there to be broken. We have the depth in this event and certainly one of us can better the national record."
Foreign athletes take fair share of wins
Every year Potchefstroom attracts hundreds of international athletes who escape the northern hemisphere's chilly winter in search for some warm weather training. Those who won their events were Estonian shot putter Raigo Toompuu (18.40m), Poland's race walker Rafael Augstyn over the 3000m distance (11:56.96) women's 100m hurdler Laura Molenaar (14.07) and 800m Frenchman Florent Lacasse (1:47.14).
Some of the notable local winners were 100m sprinter Sherwin Vries (10.27), high jumper Ramsay Carelse (2.20m) and javelin thrower Gerbrandt Grobler (78.85m), along with Lebogang Phalula (2:05.54) in the women's 800m.
The men's 400m produced a photo-finish with training partners Reuben Majola and Sidwell Mithi stopping the clock at 46.37. Former junior athletes who seem to be making a smooth transition to the senior ranks are 3000m runner Tshamano Setone (8:03.28) and Africa Junior 110m hurdles champion Ruan de Vries (13.81).
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
SELECT RESULTS -
WAC denotes qualified 'A' Standard for IAAF World Championships, PB denotes personal best
Note: All Athletes are South Africans unless otherwise indicated
MEN
100m (+1.0)
1. Sherwin Vries 10.27
2. Snyman Prinsloo 10.32
3. Lee-Roy Newton 10.46
100m B (+1.6)
1. Francois Maasdorp 10.65
2. Ernest Hattingh 10.74
3. Hitjivirur Kaanjuka (Namibia) 10.75
400m A
1. Reuben Majola 46.37
2. Sidwell Mithi 46.37
3. Ockert Cillier 46.62
400m B
1. Wille de Beer 47.71
2. Matusi Kwadi 48.51
3. Gert Harding 48.75
400m C
1. Thabo Mathibedi 47.76
2. Themba Madima 48.52
3. Tumelo Mothepu 49.09
110m Hurdles (+0.4)
1. Ruan de Vries 13.81
2. Shaun Bownes 13.87
3. Gustav Kukkuk 14.11
400m Hurdles A
1. Alwyn Myburgh 49.16 WAC
2. Pieter de Villiers 49.43
3. Pieter Koekemoer 50.21
4. Kurt Couto (Mozambique) 50.45
400m Hurdles B
1. Johann Hanekom 51.76
2. Juan Bloem 52.55
3. Busang Kolisang 53.33
800m A
1. Florent Larcasse (France) 1:47.14
2. Juan van Deventer 1:48.52
3. Charles Janties 1:48.53
800m B
1. Lloyd Bosman 1:53.05
2. Samuel Sepeng 1:53.62
3. Francois Lotter 1:53.74
3000m A
1. Tshamano Setone 8:03.28
2. Mbogeni Ngxazozo 8:06.35
3. Reuben Ramolefi 8:07.94
3000m B
1. Esau Nkosi 8:25.65
2. Ettienne Plaatjies 8:25.68
3. Folovia Siyohle 8:28.81
3000m Walk
1. Rafael Augstyn (Poland) 11.56.96
2. Colin Griffen (Ireland) 12.01.16
3. Rafael Fredoczyzki (Poland) 12:07.99
4. Hatem Ghoula (Tunisia) 12:08.49
Long Jump
1. Keenan Watson 7.60 (+1.0)
2. Yaw Fosu-Amoah 7.54 (NWR)
3. Ethan Alexander 7.48 (NWR)
4. Stephan Louw (Namibia) 7.30
High Jump
1. Ramsey Carelse 2.20
2. Juan-Pierre van der Schyff 2.10
3. Vihann Oosthuizen 2.05
Javelin
1. Gerbrandt Grobler 78.85
2. Tommiee du Toit 78.03
3. Brian Erasmus 77.68
Discus
1. Johannes van Wyk 57.47
2. Stefan Joubert 51.29
3. Wynand Coetzee 50.92
Shot Put
1. Raigo Toompuu (Estonia) 18.40
2. Rolie Potgieter 18.18
3. Jan (JP) Hoffman 17.46
WOMEN
100m A (+0.8)
1. Cindy Stewart 11.77
2. Tsholofelo Selemane 12.03
3. Michelle Andrew 12.04
100m B (+0.9)
1. Wenda Theron 12.32
2. Cherise Jones 12.37
3. Lynette Pretorius 12.85
400m
1. Estie Wittstock 53.38
2. Tihanna Vorster 54.84
3. Agnes Samaria (Namibia) 56.36
100m Hurdles (+0.6)
1. Laura Molenaar (Holland) 14.07
2. Christine Ras 14.08
3. Kerryn Hulsen 15.14
400m Hurdles
1. Amanda Kotze 59.16
2. Licinda Liebenburg 1:00.80
3. Mariska Meintjies 1:01.31
800m
1. Lebogang Phalula 2:05.54
2. Mapaseka Makhanya 2:07.60
3. Marlene Breytenbach 2:08.64
3000m
1. Rene Kalmer 9:14.80
2. Esbie Strydom 9:42.29
3. Nicolene van Rooyen 9:46.01
3000m Walk
1. Nicolene Cronje 13:25.29
2. Erasmus Suzanne 15:15.49
3. Hopkins Michelle 16:42.72
Triple Jump
1. Charlene Henning 12.63 (+1.2)
2. Eliz-Mari Prinsloo 11.79 (NWR)
3. Arline Muller 11.66(NWR)
High Jump
1. Anika Smit 1.85
2. Marcoleen Pretorius 1.80
3. Louise Dreyer 1.75
Pole Vault
1. Lindi Roux 3.80
Javelin
1. Justine Robeson 62.51 WAC
2. Sunette Viljoen 52.25
3. Linda Smit 50.99
Shot Put
1. Simone du Toit 16.15
2. Bianca van Rooyan 12.67
3. Tanya Swanepoel 9.51
