Nolwazi hunts down medals in Paarl
South African School gold triple-jump medallist, Nolwazi Mashaba of Lowveld High School, took silver at the ASA u/18 and u/20 championships at Dal Josafat Stadium, Paarl in a see-saw battle.
Leading up to the finals, she produced a leap of 12,03 metres which saw her in first position 0,41 metres ahead of Gauteng North’s Elisete Leso (11,62) and Gontse Morake (11,56) also of Gauteng in third.
Gontse’s attempt of 12,74 in the final for women u/18 was worth the gold medal. Nolwazi jumped a new personal best of 12,46 metres. Elisete rounded off the podium with 12,14 metres.
As what was expected, it was a fierce challenge in the women u/18 long jump event.
Nolwazi was the front runner after round one, with a distance of 5,90 metres. Boland’s Mieke Basson was second (5,77) and Gauteng’s Rose Xeyi in third (5,44).
Esther Solarin eventually claimed the gold medal in the final round with a distance of 5,96 metres.
Nolwazi narrowly missed out on a silver medal and had to be satisfied with bronze. Mieke retained her second position (5,81) – a mere 0,01 centimetres off Nolwazi’s distance.
Hoërskool Nelspruit returned with three bronze medals.
A throw of 12,02 metres by Ilke Joubert bagged her the bronze medal. It was her second bronze in two weeks, after she placed third at the SA Schools with a distance of 12,83 metres.
South African sevens player, Stefan Smit was one of three athletes who managed to cross the 60-metre line for boys u/20 javelin throw. His performance of 60,83 metres was a season best for Stefan.
Locals who competed at Dal Josafat Stadium
Rob Ferreira
Nkosana Mpinga
Vuyo Ndlovu
Temilton Njabulo
Markus Klopper
NHS
Devon Nell
Ruan Labuschagne
Douw Kruger
Jay-tee Boers
Stefan Smit
Ilke Joubert
Aubrey van der Bank
LHS
Nolwazi Mashaba.
