Robert Oosthuizen after his 86.80m PB in Oudtshoorn (© Mark Ouma)
Potchefstroom, South AfricaHomeboy Robert Oosthuizen qualified for the IAAF World Athletics Championships to highlight the Yellow Pages Series meet in Potchefstroom South Africa on Saturday (19).
A younger generation of elite athletes asserted their presence at the meet. Introducing heats before finals in the sprints is a positive innovation. However organisers ought to have alerted athletes before the day of the meet and permitted more time for athletes to recover before the final.
Javelin –
Competing on his home base Oosthuizen bounced back after a year plagued with injury to win the javelin with a throw of 82.83m. He admits this was not what he expected.
“I am happy to be back after recovering from the groin injury that required an operation last year. After being out of action for almost a year I only expected a throw of about 75m,” says Oosthuizen.
“It is a pleasant surprise to qualify for the World Championships at my first meet on my return. Now I plan to be consistent and remain healthy throughout he season,” says the 2006 World junior champion.
400m Hurdles -
The Africa 400m Hurdles silver medallist Cornel Fredericks got his season off to and positive start winning his race in 49.60. “This is the first time I have ever started the year with a sub 50 second effort,” says a delighted Fredericks.
“I was greatly inspired by winning the silver medal at my first Africa Senior Championships in (Nairobi) Kenya last year. What’s more my time of 48.79 is my first under 49 seconds,” says Fredericks.
However Fredericks was left out of the team to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India a few months later. Clearly, he aims to make an impact early in the hope this time he will be treated fairly.
“The past is behind me,” says Fredericks who is sill the Africa junior champion in the event. “This year I aim to make an impact early and stay consistent and healthy. My ultimate aim is to do well at the World Championships in Daegu (South Korea) and at the All Africa Games in (Maputo) Mozambique,” Fredericks declared.
Womens Javelin –
Africa Silver medallist Justine Robbeson (60.93m) upstaged her training part and pre-event favourite Sunetve Viljoen. Both are recovering from injuries.
“I did not expect to throw this far as I had an operation in November and have not rained well for long. This year I hope to be in the finals at world championships,” say Robbeson, the 2004 world junior heptathlon champion.
“I am making steady progress recovering from a toe injury. I am glad t have compete so I can assess me level of fitness,” says Vijoen, the Africa champion.
Elsewhere...
Caster Semenya, the reigning World 800m champion, opened her season with a victory, clocking 2:04.12. Other notable performances came from triple jumper Tumelo Thagane (16.75) and 200m sprinters Roscoe Engel (20.76) and Namibian Hitjivirue Kaanjuka (20.96).
The 400m produced the meets most exciting finish. Sibusiso Shishi 46.80, Botswana’s Isaac Makwala (46.81) and Jacob Ramokoka 46.81 crossed the finish line practically together.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Click here for results
A younger generation of elite athletes asserted their presence at the meet. Introducing heats before finals in the sprints is a positive innovation. However organisers ought to have alerted athletes before the day of the meet and permitted more time for athletes to recover before the final.
Javelin –
Competing on his home base Oosthuizen bounced back after a year plagued with injury to win the javelin with a throw of 82.83m. He admits this was not what he expected.
“I am happy to be back after recovering from the groin injury that required an operation last year. After being out of action for almost a year I only expected a throw of about 75m,” says Oosthuizen.
“It is a pleasant surprise to qualify for the World Championships at my first meet on my return. Now I plan to be consistent and remain healthy throughout he season,” says the 2006 World junior champion.
400m Hurdles -
The Africa 400m Hurdles silver medallist Cornel Fredericks got his season off to and positive start winning his race in 49.60. “This is the first time I have ever started the year with a sub 50 second effort,” says a delighted Fredericks.
“I was greatly inspired by winning the silver medal at my first Africa Senior Championships in (Nairobi) Kenya last year. What’s more my time of 48.79 is my first under 49 seconds,” says Fredericks.
However Fredericks was left out of the team to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India a few months later. Clearly, he aims to make an impact early in the hope this time he will be treated fairly.
“The past is behind me,” says Fredericks who is sill the Africa junior champion in the event. “This year I aim to make an impact early and stay consistent and healthy. My ultimate aim is to do well at the World Championships in Daegu (South Korea) and at the All Africa Games in (Maputo) Mozambique,” Fredericks declared.
Womens Javelin –
Africa Silver medallist Justine Robbeson (60.93m) upstaged her training part and pre-event favourite Sunetve Viljoen. Both are recovering from injuries.
“I did not expect to throw this far as I had an operation in November and have not rained well for long. This year I hope to be in the finals at world championships,” say Robbeson, the 2004 world junior heptathlon champion.
“I am making steady progress recovering from a toe injury. I am glad t have compete so I can assess me level of fitness,” says Vijoen, the Africa champion.
Elsewhere...
Caster Semenya, the reigning World 800m champion, opened her season with a victory, clocking 2:04.12. Other notable performances came from triple jumper Tumelo Thagane (16.75) and 200m sprinters Roscoe Engel (20.76) and Namibian Hitjivirue Kaanjuka (20.96).
The 400m produced the meets most exciting finish. Sibusiso Shishi 46.80, Botswana’s Isaac Makwala (46.81) and Jacob Ramokoka 46.81 crossed the finish line practically together.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
Click here for results
