Hickley continues sublime form to qualify for nationals
He won gold in the 5 000m and bronze in the 1 500m.
Kevin Hickley lived up to his billing as one of the top up-and-coming middle-distance runners in the province when he dominated the packed field in the men’s U20 5 000m final to win the gold medal.
The Benoni High Athletic Club (BHAC) athlete pulled one of the best performances of the day when he left the field in his wake to win the race by almost 15 seconds at the CGA Track and Field Championships at Germiston Stadium on March 9.
The Hoërskool Hans Moore learner clearly missed his fierce competitors in the distance, including Zenzile Pheko, who was at the national 10km champs, but he made the best of the opportunity as he strolled to victory in 15:17 for first place.
Second-placed Teboho Dlamini crossed the line in 15:32 for the silver, while Zane Strydom claimed the third spot in 15:34.
The youngster also earned a bronze in the 1 500m in 04:01 as he qualified for next week’s ASA National Championships.
The on-form East Athletic Club (EAC) runner, Gift Nkosi, captured the gold in the 3 000m but settled for a silver in the 5 000m after missing out on the top prize by five seconds. She clocked 18:40 in the 12.5-lap race, behind winner Lika Strydom, who clocked 18:35.
In a close 3 000m race, Nkosi beat Katelynn Steenkamp by three seconds as she stormed to victory in 11:02 to qualify for the nationals.
Others to qualify for the nationals are Hickley’s BHAC teammates Camryn de Meyer, who grabbed a bronze medal in the U20 women’s 800m, and Ryan Ferreira. Ferreira also settled for the bronze with an impressive 01:57 in the men’s U20 800m double-lapper.
Owen Dalzell, also from the BHAC, threw a modest 50.11m in the javelin throw to end in third place, behind winner Jan-Hendrick Heymans from Helpmekaar AC, who threw a monstrous 72.39, and second-paced Stian Zopick, who cleared 53.08m.
The Benoni Northerns Athletic Club’s Jade Doran won the girls’ U16 1 500m steeplechase in a season’s best of 05:29, and Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) runner Inge Boshoff grabbed the silver in the U18 women’s triple jump final with a leap of 10.60m.
After finishing outside the medal positions in the 800m, the EAC’s Thato Sesoko missed the top spot by three seconds in the girls’ U16 1 500m final after clocking 04:47 for the silver. Nicola Smith won the race in 04:44.
The national championships will take place from March 21 to 23 at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria.
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