Louis van Zyl in Johannesburg (© Mark Ouma)
Johannesburg, South AfricaAfrican champion Louis van Zyl of South Africa clocked a season’s best of 49.45 seconds to emerge victorious in the 400m Hurdles at the Yellow Pages Track and Field meeting in Johannesburg on Wednesday night (24).
Breathing a sign of relief, Van Zyl admitted he has finally gotten over the setback at the national championships on Sunday (21 March) where he was disqualified for a false start. He fulfilled a promise to his training partners and close friends that he would make amends.
“I was the most experienced athlete in the field and should never have made a false start,” he said. “The new rule on false starts is very clear. I have seen it applied throughout the Yellow Pages meets. Even on the day of the final a few chaps got disqualified.”
“What kept me going since Sunday was the good natured humour of my training partners and close friends like Kurto Couto (Mozambique). They teased me all the way during the bus ride back to from the championships,” Van Zyl explained.
“Now it is back to serious business. I will skip the next Yellow Pages meet in Stellenbosch (30 March), and charge after Ofentse (Mogawane) in the 400m flat at the last Yellow Pages meet in Ekhurleni (06 April). Ofentse is unbeaten this year. My personal best in 400m is 45.82. I think he will give me the right competition to push me to better my career best in 400m,” Van Zyl added.
Windy’s improvement continues
Jonas Windy was smiling ear to ear after he blew away the field in the last 300m to win the 800m in a lifetime best of 1:46.77. His previous best was 1:47.34.
Windy was one of those who failed to keep pace with Stephen Mokoka in that thrilling 1500m final at the national championships on Sunday. However he established a career best of 3:40.28 seconds and improvement from 3:42.62.
“Two career best times in two races is a fitting way to start my first year at senior level,” said Windy, who turned 20 a fortnight ago. “I used the same tactic Mokoka employed to beat us to get the result. Many of us shine at junior level but struggle to make an impact at senior level. I think if I start my races a little faster I can still improve on these times this year.”
Tumelo Thagane was a comfortable winner in the triple jump with a distance of 16.78m. Namibian Roger Haitengi was runner-up in 16.38m. “My aim now is to consistently jump close to or better still over 17 metres. It is a long season and I hope I will be well into 17 metres by the Commonwealth Games in October,” said Thagane.
A notable rising talent in South African athletics is the 17-year-old Rikenette Steenkamp who won the women’s 100m Hurdles in a life time best of 13.61. This barely two days after claiming the national title in 13.66, her previous personal best.
“I am enjoying the experience of competing against seniors. I will probably concentrate on the hurdles and 200m at the national junior and youth championships to enhance my chances for a place on the team to the World Junior Championships,” Steenkamp said.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Click here for full results
Breathing a sign of relief, Van Zyl admitted he has finally gotten over the setback at the national championships on Sunday (21 March) where he was disqualified for a false start. He fulfilled a promise to his training partners and close friends that he would make amends.
“I was the most experienced athlete in the field and should never have made a false start,” he said. “The new rule on false starts is very clear. I have seen it applied throughout the Yellow Pages meets. Even on the day of the final a few chaps got disqualified.”
“What kept me going since Sunday was the good natured humour of my training partners and close friends like Kurto Couto (Mozambique). They teased me all the way during the bus ride back to from the championships,” Van Zyl explained.
“Now it is back to serious business. I will skip the next Yellow Pages meet in Stellenbosch (30 March), and charge after Ofentse (Mogawane) in the 400m flat at the last Yellow Pages meet in Ekhurleni (06 April). Ofentse is unbeaten this year. My personal best in 400m is 45.82. I think he will give me the right competition to push me to better my career best in 400m,” Van Zyl added.
Windy’s improvement continues
Jonas Windy was smiling ear to ear after he blew away the field in the last 300m to win the 800m in a lifetime best of 1:46.77. His previous best was 1:47.34.
Windy was one of those who failed to keep pace with Stephen Mokoka in that thrilling 1500m final at the national championships on Sunday. However he established a career best of 3:40.28 seconds and improvement from 3:42.62.
“Two career best times in two races is a fitting way to start my first year at senior level,” said Windy, who turned 20 a fortnight ago. “I used the same tactic Mokoka employed to beat us to get the result. Many of us shine at junior level but struggle to make an impact at senior level. I think if I start my races a little faster I can still improve on these times this year.”
Tumelo Thagane was a comfortable winner in the triple jump with a distance of 16.78m. Namibian Roger Haitengi was runner-up in 16.38m. “My aim now is to consistently jump close to or better still over 17 metres. It is a long season and I hope I will be well into 17 metres by the Commonwealth Games in October,” said Thagane.
A notable rising talent in South African athletics is the 17-year-old Rikenette Steenkamp who won the women’s 100m Hurdles in a life time best of 13.61. This barely two days after claiming the national title in 13.66, her previous personal best.
“I am enjoying the experience of competing against seniors. I will probably concentrate on the hurdles and 200m at the national junior and youth championships to enhance my chances for a place on the team to the World Junior Championships,” Steenkamp said.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Click here for full results
