Naas, Amos want to defend title
As a result of Lowveld High School Nolwazi Mashaba's stellar performances in previous competitions, she is the only u/15 athlete from Mpumalanga who will compete against the u/17s at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town today.
The 800-metre prospect from Hoërskool Rob Ferreira, Amos Khoza, is back for the Athletics South Africa Youth and Junior Championships that started this morning in Cape Town. Although he did not medal at the South African High School Championships in Durban last weekend, he still looks to defend his 800-metre title this weekend.
Discus thrower from Hoërskool Nelspruit, Naas Marais, who attained a gold medal last year, is also part of the 17 Lowveld athletes who were selected to compete in the two-day event. Naas was crowned SA’s best during last year’s youth and junior championships held in Germiston.
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In Durban he placed third in discus with a massive distance of 53,11 metres. He will also be in action in shot-put for boys u/19.
Newly crowned SA high school champs, Nerina Visser (u/19, 400-metre hurdles) and Joshua Maass (u/17, javelin) hope to take their second gold medal in just less than a week. Current SA Triathlon champ, Asher Biggs (Curro Nelspruit) will compete in the 800 metres for boys u/17.
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The competition in Cape Town is only for SA’s top u/17, u/19, u/21 and u/23 athletes. Athletics South Africa will announce the team that will represent the country at the African Youth Championships, World Youth Games and African Junior Championships after the weekend.
Amos already met the B-standard qualifying criteria to be considered for the youth team in the 800 metres. LHS’ Norbert Ponisammy is just seconds away from meeting the A-standard criteria for the junior team in the 100 metres.
His current distance of 7,43 metres in long jump and time in the 200 metres are also B-standard criteria for the youth team.
