Pieter de Villiers (left) taking the win in Germiston (© Mark Ouma)
Ekurhuleni, South AfricaFive Beijing Olympic qualifiers in the men’s 400m hurdles and 800m were the highlights at the Yellow Pages Series Meetings in Germiston Stadium Ekurhuleni, South Africa on Friday (22 Feb).
Hurdlers Pieter de Villiers, Alwyn Myburgh, and Ockert Cilliers achieved the A standard Olympic qualifiers. Shortly after then Mbualeni Mulaudzi and the vastly improved Samson Ngoepe booked their place on the team to Beijing in the 800m. South Africa will only be sending athletes who achieve the A qualifying standard to the Beijing Olympics.
De Villiers (48.71) held off the challenge of Myburgh (48.99), Cilliers (49.18) and Louis van Zyl (50.43) to win the race.
“I like the challenge of having to run so hard to win. I am now fully fit after my comeback in 2005. This year we should aim for sub 48 seconds,” says De Villers. Cilliers agrees. “Today it was about qualifying. There are new goals we will go for as the year progresses.”
“Taking advantage of Kenyan pace setter David Kilo’s fast pace, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:45.25) took the win to also get his Beijing qualifier. New find Samsion Ngoep (1:45.49) also qualified with a personal best.
“I only do well when the pace is fast. I hope this year I will win a medal in Beijing,” says Mulaudzi.
Chayne Rahme was the star on the infield when he cleared 5.10m in the Pole Vault to improve his national youth Junior Pole Vault record from 4.92 set last year.
“I did not expect this. I broke my regular pole which I vault with and had a day’s practice with a substitute. My goal is to feature prominently at the world Junior Championships and Commonwealth Youth games later in the year,” says Rahme.
In the long jump Khotoso Mokoena (8.19) and Janice Joseph (6.63) edged closer to the A standard Olympic qualifier. Hammer thrower Chris Harmse (73.99) was in fine form, while javelin Javelin throwers Justine Robbeson (58.31) and Sunette Viljoen (57.75) showed consistency.
Veteran Sprinter Geraldine Pillay started her Olympic campaign with a promising 11.35 victory in the 100m. “I hope to get faster in the remaining two meets of the series,” says Pillay.
While emerging sprinter Isabel le Roux (23.05) improved her personal best by 0.27 seconds and in the process achieve the B Olympic qualifier in the women’s 200m. She had earlier finished runner up to Pillay in the 100m. “I am delighted with my time. Probably I would have run faster if Pillay had been in the race. Anyway we will meet soon.”
In the women’s 400m Estie Wittstock (52.56) was pushed hard by Zambian Rachel Nachula ( 53.05) before experience prevailed in the closing stages of the race. Janet Wienand (56.81) was a clear winner in the women’s 400m hurdles.
Although Namibian Agnes Samaria (2:05.52) comfortably won the women 800, she was disappointed. “Why are these girls waiting for someone to set the pace? If they expect to qualify for the Olympics, then they must get serious and run the race fast from the beginning,” Samaria said.
Hannes Dreyer made a brilliant start to the season with victories in 100m (10.39) and 200m (20.87).
“Yes, this is my year. I am gunning for not just the Olympics but entering the record books,” says a delighted Dreyer.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
