Gerhardus Pienaar in Oudtshoorn, South Africa (© Mark Ouma)
Oudtshoorn, South AfricaThreetime African champion Gerhardus Pienaar’s 82.96m javelin release crowned a colourful Yellow Pages Track and Field Meet at the De Jager athletics stadium on Saturday (17).
The future of athletics in Oudtshoorn, the country’s ostrich farming capital, looks promising. On a warm and sunny day, the community staged the most well-organised and attended pre-meet programme for sub-junior (age 7-13) seen at a South African track series in over two years.
Pienaar – technique at fault
After opening with a 80.99m effort, there was no doubt that Pienaar, 25, the World Cup runner-up last summer would carry the day in the men’s Javelin Throw. However, he was not satisfied and wanted more. With just one throw left, Pienaar, who has a PB of 84.50m (2003), booked his ticket to this year’s World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan with an improvement to 82.96m.
“Today my throwing technique let me down a bit. This is my first major competition this year and I hope to improve during the season. My aim is to take my career best well over 86m. Having won a silver medal at the World Cup in Athletics last year, I hope to be in the medal brackets come Osaka,” confirmed Pienaar, who is also a former World Junior champion.
Vries and Stewart keep flying
In the men’s and women’s sprints, Sherwin Vries and Cindy Stewart respectively continued to dominate. Sprinting against a considerable headwind Vries clocked 10.66 (-2.0 m/s wind) in the 100m but had better conditions for the 200m, 21.45 (+1.5), while 11.71 (+1.5) and 23.96 (+1.0) were the winning times for Stewart.
“What’s important now is for the other sprinters to come to the party. We have been silver medallists at the 4x100m relay at the Commonwealth Games and Africa Championships (and at the 2001 World Championships – 38.47 national record). Its time for us to go one better,” said Sherwin Vries.
Cindy Stewart was somewhat more modest about her goals. “I have my sights set on doing well at the World Student Games in (Bangkok) Thailand. Of course running faster times especially in the 100m will be critical if I am to reach the finals,” says Stewart the current Africa Student Games champions in short sprints.
The improving Lebogana Phalula was in her element in the women’s 800m employing an aggressive front running style, she won the race in 2:04.61. In the process she pulled runner-up Rene Kalmer (2:05.97) and third placed Mapaseka Makhanya (2:06.31) to their own career best times.
Making a return to competition after a knee injury Johan Cronje (3:48.91) edged his training partner Boy Soke (3:48.94) to win the men’s 1500m. Newcomer Samson Ngoepe (1:50.36) prevailed in a slow but tactical men’s 800m, while Chris Harmse won the men’s Hammer Throw in a modest 71.75m.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
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