Louis van Zyl winning the 400mH in 49.35 in Johannesburg (© Mark Ouma)
Hurdlers Ter de Villiers and Shaun Bownes emerged the principal winners at the Athletics South Africa Track and Field Challenge staged at the Secunda Stadium in South Africa yesterday (21). The series replaces the previous ABSA and Engen initiatives of previous years, and marked the informal start of the South African outdoor season.
The hurdle events were the highlight of the opening leg of the six series contest. Several events including the Heptathlon and Decathlon where cancelled due to a heavy downpour midway the day’s proceedings.
Two under 49 seconds in 400m Hurdles
2000 World Junior 400m Hurdles silver medallist Ter de Villiers (48.87) edged 2002 World Junior champion and 2005 senior World finalist Louis van Zyl (48.93) in a thriller to claim victory in the 400m hurdles. Alwyn Myburg (49.38 finished third ahead of Okkert Cilliers (49.63).
“Having recovered from injuries that have plagued my career over the last two years, I want to win again before I begin speculating on what I can achieve this year. The competition is tough and I need to assert my authority in the event,” said De Villers.
Returning to competition after an indifferent season veteran Shaun Bownes had to dig deep to hold off the Africa Junior champion Ruan de Vries in the 110m Hurdles. Both were given an identical time of 13.62. “This is just the kind of start I want for the season especially with the Commonwealth Games coming up in (Melbourne) Australia in March. I want to win again next week in Tshwane on home turf just to prove this was not a fluke,” said a delighted De Vries.
Elsewhere, the Shot Put produced some promising results. Janus Robberts (19.88m) won the men’s event, while Marli Knoetze (16.81) prevailed in the women’s contest. Meanwhile, Khotso Mokoena (7.90) won the men’s Long Jump ahead of Botswana’s Gable Garenamotse (7.59), and another South African
Martin McClintock (7.58)
Sprinter Sherwin Vries (10.27) stormed to victory in the 100m, as the South Africa 400m champion Jan van der Merwe (45.99) prevailed in the one lap race with Botswana’s California Molefe (46.38) second ahead of South Africa’s Paul Gorris (46.64).
Other notable results came in the women’s sprints where Estie Wittstock won the 100m (11.60) and 200m (23.34). Meanwhile Janice Josephs (13.38) won the 100m Hurdles, before finishing third in the Long Jump (5.96) behind Karin Mey (6.28) and Delia Visser (6.23).
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
SELECTED LEADING RESULTS
NR denotes National Record
PB denotes Personal Best
NWR denotes no wind reading
Note All Athletes are South African unless otherwise mentioned
MEN
100m A (+0.5)
1 Sherwin Vries 10.27
2 Snyman Prinsloo 10.37
3 Hannes Dreyer 10.41
100m B (+0.5)
1 Xandre Strydom 10.61
2 Sylvester Abrahams 10.77
3 erik wahn10.78
100m C (+0.9)
1 Ernst Hattingh 10.85
2 Tlhalosang Molapisi (Botswana) 10.86
3 Tshepo Moloto 10.90
200m A (+3.1)
1 Leigh Julius 21.02
2 Hannes Dreyler 21.22
200m B (+2.7)
1Erik Wahn 21.36
2 Francois Maasdorp 21.49
3 Cjristain Krone 21.55
400m A
1 Jan van der Merwe 45.99
2 California Molefe 46.38 (Botswana)
3 Paul Gorris 46.64
400m B
1 Obakeng Ngwigwa (Botswana) 46.67
2 Gakologelwang Masheto (Bostwana) 46.73
3 Nico Oosthuizen 47.18
110m Hurdles (+1.9)
1 Shaun Bownes 13.62
2 Ruan de Vries 13.62
3 Frikkie van Zyl 14.01
400m Hurdles
1 Ter de Villiers 48.87
2 Louis van Zyl 48.93
3 Alwyn Myburgh 49.38
4 Okkert Cilliers 49.63
800m
1 Werner Botha 1:48.91
2 Onalenna Oabona (Botswana) 1:49.60
3 Glody Dube (Botswana) 1:51.00
1500m
1 Tshamano Setone 3:45.91
2 Juan van Deventer 3:46.03
3 Jordan Chimpangama (Zambia) 3:49.79
Long Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena 7.90 (NWR)
2 Gable Garenamotse (Botswana) 7.59 (NWR)
3 Martin McClintock 7.58 (NWR)
Shot Put
1 Janus Robberts 19.88
2 Burger Lambrechts 18.15
3 Hannes Hopley 18.15
WOMEN
100m (+1.1)
1 Estie Wittstock 11.60
2 Wendy Seegers 11.61
3 Ilanie Kruger 12.03
100m (+0.6)
1 Mia Seidler 12.42
2 Jana Theron 12.63
3 Lynette Pretorius 12.74
200m (+3.4)
1 Estie Wittstock 23.34
2 Amanda Kotze 23.70
3 Arista Hefer 24.26
200m (+1.0)
1 Melissa le Roux 24.58
2 Isabel le Roux 24.65
3 Michelle Andrew 24.95
100m Hurdles (+0.5)
1 Janice Josephs 13.38
2 Sune Labuschagne 14.07
3 Christine Ras 14.17
800m
1 Chanelle Olivier 2:05.05
2 Lebohang Phalula 2:06.66
3 Angela Wagner 2:08.19
3000m
1 Lebo Phalula 9:36.45
2 Tebogo Mashiela 9:38.93
3 Rene Kalmer 9:42.95
Long Jump
1 Karin Mey 6.28(NWR)
2 Delia Visser 6.23 (NWR)
3 Janice Joseph 5.96 (NWR)
High Jump
1 Anika Smit 1.75
2 Rene van der Merwe 1.75
3 Marisca Gertenbach 1.70
Shot Put
1 Marli Knoetze 16.81
2 Simeon du Toit 16.46
3 Ursula Fourie 11.30
