Van Nierkerk wins 200m at ASA senior championship
Taking on his last race on domestic soil this season, 400m world record holder and Olympic Games champion Wayde van Niekerk did not disappoint on April 17.
He raced to a convincing victory in the men’s 200m final on the third and final day of the Sizwe Medical Fund ASA Senior Track and Field Championships at Tuks Stadium.
Running in cold conditions in the capital city, Van Niekerk completed the half-lap final in 20.38 seconds, coasting home well clear of the rest of the field with national u-20 champion Benjamin Richards grabbing the silver medal in 20.77.
“Tonight was just about getting the win and feeling what it’s like to win again at championship level,” van Niekerk said.
“Now I can use this momentum going forward. Training is going well and I’m feeling confident in myself.”
In the women’s 200m final, Justine Palframan earned gold in 23.64, holding off a challenge from Shirley Nekhubui who finished second in 23.77.
Former World Athletics Championships long jump bronze medalist Ruswahl Samaai landed at 8.16m with his first attempt, which was enough to clinch the SA title. Jovan van Vuuren also sailed beyond eight metres, producing a leap of 8.02m for the silver medal.
In the men’s shot put, Kyle Blignaut and Jason van Rooyen continued their domestic rivalry in a hard-fought battle.
Blignaut ultimately came on top to win the final with a 20.82m heave, with van Rooyen settling for the runner-up spot (20.60m).
“I wanted to hit the Olympic qualifying standard (21.10m) mark, but I’m very happy with the win and my first SA senior title,” said Blignaut, a former World u-20 Championships gold medalist.
“It was a bit cold, but no excuses. I will try to get the Olympic qualifier at an international meeting.”
On the track, Wenda Nel did well to secure her ninth national title in the women’s 400m hurdles event.
Nel crossed the line in 55.60 with former world junior champion Zeney van der Walt taking the second position in 56.45.
Le Roux Hamman dipped under 50 seconds to grab the gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles event, reclaiming the title he won in 2017.
In the flat 400m contest, Deline Mpiti caused an upset to win the women’s final in a personal best 52.78, with SA u-20 champion Amy Naude finishing second in 53.65, while Zakithi Nene earned gold in the men’s final in 45.54.
In the longer distances, Glenrose Xaba successfully defended her national title in the women’s 10 000m final in 33:35.23, while Precious Mashele ripped the field apart to win the men’s 5 000m final in 13:42.31.
Tshepo Tshite secured victory in the men’s 800m event in 1:45.79 and Prudence Sekgodiso won the women’s two-lap final in 2:08.35.
In the men’s high jump, Mpho Links cleared the bar at 2.15m to beat former world youth champion Breyton Poole on countback and Riette Heyns won the women’s discus throw final with a 55.32m heave.
Fredriech Pretorius earned gold in the decathlon with 7 510 points and Shannon Verster won the heptathlon with 5 247 points. In the men’s 20km walk, Wayne Snyman took gold in 1:29:03 and Zelda Schultz won the women’s race in 1:41:50.
Akani Simbine and Reabetse Moloi were crowned as the fastest athletes in South Africa on Friday, securing the national men’s and women’s 100m titles on Day 2.
Simbine, who clocked 9.82 seconds with a tailwind in the men’s semi-finals the day before, returned to the track to win the men’s 100m final in 9.99 with a legal wind.
Gift Leotlela grabbed the silver medal in 10.16 and Thembo Monareng earned bronze in 10.33.
“I came here to be SA No 1, so I’m happy with my run,” Simbine said.
“I’m glad to run another sub-10 and the key is to stay healthy. It’s another big year and I’m sticking to the main goal, which is the Tokyo Olympics.
“Moloi stormed home in 11.55 in the women’s 100m final, with Miranda Coetzee taking second place in 11.69 and Boipelo Tshemese finishing a close third in 11.70.”
Marjone Fourie added the SA senior 100m hurdles title to the gold medal she won at the Twizza ASA u-20 Championships in Paarl last week, securing victory in the final in 13.54.
Producing the major upset of the day, Tiaan Kleynhans won the men’s 110m hurdles final in 13.62, with SA record holder Antonio Alkana relegated to fourth place in 14.02 after hitting a hurdle and losing his balance.
Marga Cumming won gold in the women’s hammer throw with a best attempt of 64.30m. Cumming’s winning heave landed just one centimetre short of the 64.31m national record she set in Potchefstroom in February.
Her brother, Alan Cumming made it a family one-two by taking the men’s hammer throw title with a 72.78m effort.
Mire Reinstorf dominated the women’s pole vault final, clearing the bar at 4.00m, while Leyton Davids’ best leap of 16.46m was good enough for gold in the men’s triple jump.
Zinzi Xulu won the women’s triple jump final, landing at 13.34m.
Ashley Smith (9:03.91) and Cherise Carreira (11:11.60) won the men’s and women’s 3 000m steeplechase titles respectively, while Nkosinathi Sibiya (3:42.92) and Danielle Verster (4:20.54) won gold in the men and women’s 1 500m finals.
Bringing a close to the three-day championships, host province Athletics Gauteng North won the women’s 4x100m relay (45.36), the women’s 4x400m relay (3:37.05) and the men’s 4x400m relay (3:09.39).
They were prevented from taking a clean sweep in the relay events, however, when Central Gauteng Athletics winning gold in the men’s 4x100m race (39.66).
