Cillier’s 48.98 Hurdles win highlights ABSA opener

Ockert Cillers clocked a spectacular 48.98 second world outdoor season lead to win the mne’s 400m Hurdles at the opening ABSA Series meeting stage at the Puk-McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom, South Africa on Friday night (4 Jan).

The other headlines were produced in the flat sprints by Geraldine Pillay (South Africa) and Talkmore Nyangani (Zimbabwe) got their seasons off to an impressive start.

48.98 Hurdles win for Cilliers

The blue ribbon event of the series, the men's 400m Hurdles, lived up to the spectators’ expectations. Although he made a false start, 23 year-old Ockert Cillers carried the day with a thrilling sprint for the line which took a 48.98 victory ahead of the 2002 World Junior champion Louis van Zyl (49.11) who had made a hot pursuit of his more experienced compatriot. Wouter le Roux (49.25), Ter de Villiers (49.34), and Francois Malan (50.24) followed in that order.

"This is my home turf and I cannot stand losing to anyone here. I think that is why I was a bit tense at the start. It is the first meeting of the season and I am glad it has started this way," said a delighted Cilliers whose personal best stands at 48.02 (2004).

Pillay sets career bests for sprint double

With winning times of 11.20 (100m) and 22.99 (200m), Geraldine Pillay, 27, improved on her previous career bests of 11.25 and 23.07 respectively to take a marvellous sprint double.

"I expected to run fast tonight because of the kind of work we have done in the gym and on the track," said Pillay. "My main challenge now is to sustain this form all the way to the World Championship in Helsinki now that I have at least achieved the A qualifying standard in the 100m.” Pillay is intent on proving that winning the gold medal in the 200m at the Africa Championships last year in Brazzaville, Congo was no fluke.

45.40 men’s 400m win

Zimbabwe's Talkmore Nyangani surged in the home straight of the men’s 400 metres to make a triumphant debut in the series. What's more he achieved the World Championship A standard qualifier with a winning time of 45.40. South Africa's Marcus la Grange (45.88) was runner up. His vastly improved compatriot Ofentse Mogawane (45.95) clocked a career best and also achieved the B standard for Helsinki.

"I have competed against La Grange many times so although he has tremendous speed, I knew I could catching up with him on the home straight," said Nyangabo. "Eventually I want to better our Zimbabwe national record set by Lewis Banda (44.58). We hope to train here together once he complete his studies in the United States," says Nyangabo. He wants to better his career best (44.94) this year.

Mokoena makes bold prediction

South Africa's Khotso Mokoena's leap of 8.12m prompted him to make a bold prediction. "This year, I am going to break the Africa senior record. It's within my sight and with God’s help is possible," he says. Senegal's Cheikh Tidane Toure (8.46) set the record in 1997. Mokoena travels to Finland for two meets next week before returning for the ABSA series next month.

Confident throwing

Following her comfortable victory with a Discus Throw of 60.25m, Elizna Naude (South Africa) set her sights on improving her African (61.79) record. "I want to achieve the World Championships A standard qualifier (62.00) during the six leg ABSA series. In Helsinki my target is to throw over 65m," confirmed Naude.

A 76.74m effort was enough for Chris Harmse (South Africa) to comfortably win the men’s Hammer Throw "I am satisfied with my performance at this first ABSA meeting. After missing the Athens Olympics, I want to make the finals in Helsinki.

"My strategy is to throw consistently above 80 metres before Helsinki. I plan to throw 80m at least once during this series and then again at the national championships in April. That will set me up well for the European circuit before Helsinki," said Harmse.

Cronje upstages Bucher and Longo

Positioning himself just behind 2001 World 800m champion Andre Bucher (Switzerland), Johan Cronje (South Africa) surged past him with 250m to go and powered his way to victory in a career 800m best of (1:46.78). Charles Jantjies was not far behind in 1:46.98, with Italy’s Andrea Longo (1:47.45) third, and Bucher fourth in 1:47.74.

"I have only seen Bucher and Andrea Longo (Italy) in action on television, and to beat then today is just fantastic. I enjoy intense speed in 800m more than my specialty the 1500m. If I can maintain this form, I hope to crack the 3:34 barrier in the 1500m this year. That should get me a place on the plane to Helsinki," says Cronje. He is positive his 1500m best of 3:37.02 in Doha, Qatar in 2002 will not last the next few months

Ruan de Vries (13.82) edged Africa championship bronze medallists Frikkie van Zyl (13.84) to win the 110m hurdles. With a time identical to the Africa junior record he set late last year, De Vries is confident he will qualify for Helsinki. "There is still time to get down to 13.5 and stay there. I want to compete in the big league," says De Vries.

Other notable performances include that of South Africa's Leigh Julius (20.61) in the men's 200m. Runner up Jean du Randt (20.99) was a happy man having set his second career best of the day. Earlier on, he won the 100m in 10.37.

Latvia's Vadim Vasilevskis won the javelin with a throw if 79.03.

New York Marathon champion Hendrik Ramaala (8:03.13) treated the crowd to some fine sprinting at the finish to beat Reuben Ramolefi (8:03.70) in the 3000m. Gert-Jan Liefers of the Netherlands (8:04.84) was third.

Mark Ouma for the IAAF

SELECTED RESULTS

Note: All athletes are South Africans unless otherwise mentioned. NSR denotes National Senior Record; NJR denotes National Junior Record; SR denotes ABSA Series record; PB denotes Personal best

MEN
100m A (-0.6)
1 Jean du Randt 10.37 PB
2 Snyman Prinsloo 10.38
3 Emile Britz 10.60

100m B (-0.9)
1 Hannes Dreyer 10.72
2 Sybrand van Dyk 10.90
3 Leslie Janse van Rensburg 10.93

100m C (-1.7)
1 Michael Koch 11.05
2 Brian Mapanga 11.15
3 Rudi de Ru 11.21

200m A (0.0)
1 Leigh Julius 20.61
2 Jean du Randt 20.99 PB
3 Danie Butler 21.74

200m B (0.0)
1 Xandre Strydom 21.25
2 Leslie Janse van Rensburg 21.35
3 John-Andrew Kleynhans 21.44
4 Oscar  Pistorius 21.83

400m A
1 Talkmore Nyangani (Zimbabwe) 45.40
2 Marcus la Grange 45.88
3 Ofentse Mogawane 45.95 PB

400m B
1 Jacob Ramokoka 47.11
2 Fanus Botha 47.91
3 Nico Oosthuizen 48.08

400m C
1 Tinus Erasmus 48.06
2 Gert Harding 48.38
3 Harry van Zyl 48.53

110m Hurdles (-0.8)
1 Ruan de Vries 13.82 PB/ AJR
2 Firkkie van Zyl 13.84
3 Hennie Kotze 14.07

400m Hurdles A
1 Ockert Cilliers 48.98
2 Louis van Zyl 49.11
3 Wouter le Roux 49.25
4 Ter de Villiers 49.34
5. Francois Malan 50.24

400m Hurdles B
1 Vian Louw 52.8
2 Tiaan Bezuidenhout 54.2
3 DJ Grobler 57.7

800m A
1 Johan Cronje 1:46.78 PB
2 Charles Jantjies 1:46.98
3 Andrea Longo (Italy) 1:47.45
4 Andre Bucher (Switzerland) 1:47.74

800m B
1 Mthobisi Baloyi 1:52.28
2 HP Venter 1:52.51
3 Elroy Gelant 1:53.06

3000m
1 Hendrik  Ramaala 8:03.13
2 Reuben Ramolefi 8:03.70
3 Gert-Jan Liefers (Netherlands) 8:04.84

3000m Walk
1 Marc Mundell 12:45.04
2 Marius Appel 12:54.93
3 Jacobus van Dyk 13.08.28

Long Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena 8.12 (0.0) SR
2 Yaw Fosu-Ahoam 7.72 (0.0)
3 Martin McClintock 7.67 (-0.53)

High Jump
1 Zieg Veenemans 2.15
2 Terry Wiepener 2.05
3 Jaco Joubert 2.00

Javelin
1 Vadim Vasilevskis (Latvia) 79.03
2 Hardus Pienaar 77.07
3 Gerbrand Grobler 74.74

Shot Put
1 Burger Lambrechts 18.90
2 Roelie Potgieter 18.10
3 Johannes van Wyk 16.52

Hammer
1 Chris Harmse 76.74
2 Werner Smit 71.29
3 Johan Harmse 57.40

WOMEN

100m A (0.0)
1 Geraldine Pillay 11.20 PB/SR
2 Wendy Seegers 11.67
3 Estie Wittstock 11.81

100m B (-1.4)
1 Thandi Vilakazi 12.36
2 Francisca Smit 12.42
3 Melissa le Roux12.43

200m A (0.0)
1 Geraldine Pillay 22.99 PB
2 Heide Seyerling 23.42
3 Estie Witstock 23.77

200m B (+0.6)
1Mia du Toit 24.88
2 Francisca Smit 25.18
3 Melissa le Roux 25.42

400m A
1 Amanda Kotze 53.58
2 Dominique Koster 54.28
3 Rikki Ronholt (Denmark) 54.41

100m Hurdles (-0.8)
1 Justine Robbeson 13.96
2 Christine Ras 14.25
3 Sune Labuschagne 14.37

400m Hurdles
1 Janet Wienand 59.20
2 Licinda Liebenberg 1:01.25
3 Yolanda van Aswegen 1:01. 84

800m
1 Marie-Louis Henning 2:06.21
2 Marlene Breytenbach 2:07.12
3 Angela Wagner 2:07.19

3000m
1 Lebogang Phalula 9:33.96
2 Poppy Mlambo 9:37.49
3 Emily Pidgeon 9:37.94

3000m Walk
1 Nicolene Cronje 13:19.4
2 Handrie Botha 14:32.4
3 Suzanne Erasmus 15:05.3

Long Jump
1 Delia Visser 6.25 (-1.11)
2 Justine Robbeson 6.07 (-1.2)
3 Karin Mey 6.02 (-1.02)

High Jump
1 Anika Smit 1.85
2 Marizca Gertenbach 1.80
3 Nicolize Steyn 1.80

Pole Vault
1 Annelie va Wyk 3.90
2 Samantha Dodd 3.80
3 Lindie Roux 3.70

Javelin
1 Sunette Viljoen 54.51
2 Linda Brivule (Latvia) 52.19
3 Justine Robbeson 47.22

Discus
1 Elizna Naude 60.25
2 Elene Taljaard 43.06
3 Ursula Fourie 39.67