Back
to work in style for Herbert and Febbraio
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
8 March 2002 - Bellvile Athletics Stadium, Belville, South
Africa - Olympic bronze medallist Llewellyn Herbert and Surita Febbraio opened their
season on a winning note at the ABSA series meeting at the Bellville Athletics Stadium,
Bellville on Friday night.
The competition which was the fifth and final edition in the series, was almost entirely dominated by South African athletes. It also served as a dress-rehearsal for the much anticipated showdown between the youthful world championships finalist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and the 1996 Olympic silver medallists Hezekiel Sepeng.
Surging in the last 150 metres, Herbert stormed to victory in the 400 metre hurdles in 49.05 seconds. Runner up Willie Smit of Namibia covered the distance in 49.76, to become the only other athlete to duck below the 50 seconds barrier.
“After a recent motorcycle accident all I wanted tonight was to achieve a decent time. For sometime there has been some talk that l am past my prime. I doubt that, and I will prove it,” said Herbert.
What made Surita Febbraio win the women’s 400 m hurdles rather outstanding was her time of 54.94 seconds. For over three years the policewoman had battled to break the 55 seconds barrier. Patience and resilience paid off last year when she finally realise her dream. “A series of hamstring injuries has kept me out of action. I am just glad to have competed my first race this season on a dignified note,” said Febbraio.
Competing in their speciality for the first time this season, Mulaudzi and Sepeng thrilled the crowd in the 800 metres. Sepeng took an unusual early lead and with 300 metres to the finish looked poised to win.
Mulaudzi who is more often an aggressive front-runner held back until the last 200 metres, before breezing past Sepeng on the home straight to win the two-lap duel in 1:45.64. Sepeng was second in 1:46.34, ahead of Isiah Nkuna (1:47.79).
The men’s 5000 metres had an equally exciting finish with Shadrack Hoff and Hendrik Ramaala giving a fine display of finishing sprint. The two had lead for most of the race with Lesotho’s Tau Kohotso just behind them. Hoff surged with 600 metres to the finish and looked set to win. However, a spirited effort on the home straight saw Ramaala overtake his perennial rivals 40 metres to the finish. Ramaala clocked 13:29.57. While Hoff was second in 13:30.83, Khotso was third in 13:42.99.
Competing in his hometown, Marcus la Grange blew away the field to win the 400 metres in 45.27. Kuwait’s Fawzi Al Shemeeri (46.19) was runner up ahead of Olympic finalist Hendrik Mokganyetsi (46.78)
Hungarians Kriztina Molner and Zita Ajkler, together with Bostwana John Kabisa were the only non-South Africans to win events at the meeting, Molner won the women’s pole vault with a 4.20 metre effort. While Ajkler’s victory in the women’s long jump was the result of a 6.43 metres leap.
Kubisa won the 400m B race in 46,56. Kabelo Mmono and Onnanya Ramohube finished second and third respectively in the high jump with a 2.10 clearance behind the world junior champion Jacques Freitag (2.30).
LEADING RESULTS
All Athletes are South Africans unless otherwise mentioned
MEN
100m A (-0.5)
1 Matthew Quinn 10.57, 2 Nnamdi Anusim (Nigeria) 10.59, 3 SherwinVries (Namibia) 10.62
100m B (-0.5)
1 Deon du Toit 10.74, 2 Nik Smith (Scotland) 10.93, 3 Andrew Kenny 11.13 100m (-0.1)
200m (-0.3)
1 Paul Gorries 20.88, 2 Matthew Quinn 21.01, 3 Sergio Mullins 21.08
400m A
1 Marcus la Grange 45.27, 2 Fawzi Al Shemeeri (Kuwait), 46.19, 3 Hendrik
Mokganyetsi 46.78
400m B
1 John Kubisa (Botswana) 46,56, 2 Arnaud Malherbe 46.97, 3 Narcisse Teveodjre (Benin) 47.02
400m C
1 Habib Toula 48.63, 2 Madoda Bullitt 48.80, 3 Warren October 48.83
110m Hurdles (-0.9)
1 Shaun Bownes 13.74, 2 Frikkie van Zyl 13.85, 3 Bruce Bickell 14.21
400m Hurdles
1 Llewellyn Herbert 49.05, 2 Willie Smith (Namibia) 49.76, 3 Martin Willemse 50.17
800m
1 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi 1:45.64, 2 Hezekiel Sepeng 1:46.34, 3 Isaiah Nkuna 1:47.79
1500m
1 Johan Pretorius 3:41.59, 2 Johan Cronje 3:42.15, 3 Deon Joubert 3:43.08
5000m
1 Hendrik Ramaala 13:29.57, 2 Shadrack Hoff 13:30.83, 3 Tau Khotso (Lesotho)
13:42.99
Long Jump
1 Martin McClintock 7.43, 2 DriaanCornelissen 7.18, 3 Elmarco Matthews 7.09
High Jump
1 Jacque Freitag 2.30, 2 Kabelo Mmono (Botswana) 2.10, 3 Onnanya Ramohube (Botswana) 2.10
Pole Vault
1 Fanie Jacobs 5.40, 2 Theo Beyer 5.01, 3 Francois Coetzee 4.85
Discus
1 Frantz Kruger 64.10, 2 Johannes van Wyk 54.72, 3 Nico Loggerberg 49.73
Hammer Throw
1 Arno van der Merwe 66.88, 2 Riaan Smit 65.85, 3 Jacques Koen 63.87
4x100m Relay
1 ABSA Team 40.31, 2 Western Province 40.92, 3 South Africa B 41.10
4x400m Relay
1 South Africa A 3:04.90, 2 South Africa B 3:05.95, 3 Botswana 3:06:20
WOMEN
100m (-0.3)
1 Janice Joseph 11.93, 2 Hortense Bewouda (Cameroon) 11.95, 3 Lizelle Kleinhans 12.06
200m (-0.6)
1 Heide Seyerling 23.28, 2 Hortense Bewouda (Cameroon) 23.77, 3 Lizelle
Kleinhans 24.38
400m Hurdles
1 Surita Febbraio 54.94, 2 Kerryn van Zyl 56.51, 3 Monique Balsamo 58.98
1500m
1 Rene Kalmer 4:11:55, 2 Julia Sakara (Zimbabwe) 3 Doritha Harmse 4:13.93
Long Jump
1 Zita Ajkler (Hungary) 6.43, 2 Kimberley Rothman 6.00, 3 Delia Visser 5.97
High Jump (three athletes tie for second spot)
1 Hestrie Cloete 1.90, 2 Gayle Koch 1.75, Marlize Gertenbach 1.75, Diane Wondergem 1.75
Pole Vault
1 Kriztina Molner (Hungary) 4.20, 2 Annalie van Wyk 3.90, 3 Marna Jacobs 3.90, 4 Zsuzsa Szabo 3.90
Discus
1 Elizna Naude 54.60, 2 Maranelle du Toit 49.12, 3 Tarryn Bright 43.72
Shot Put
1 Veronica Abrahamse 17.76, 2 Drienkie van Wyk 17.35, 3 Maranelle du Toit 17.08
Hammer Throw
1 Elmarie Knoetzen 59.01, Lizel van Zyl 51.73, 3 Maralize Engelbrecht 48.43
