The Free State Masters Track and Field Championship happened at DP De Villiers Stadium in Sasolburg on 27 and 28 October 2023. The 2023 Free State championship was open to all provinces affiliated with South African Masters Athletics and Athletics South Africa.

The event started on Friday with the Throws Pentathlon (hammer throw, javelin, shot put, discus, and weight throw) and continued on Saturday with a full programme of track and field events. Aside from a 30-minute break due to lightning, weather conditions played in favour of the athletes and wind speeds were low enough to recognise their record-breaking performances.

Masters Athletics is specifically aimed at athletes 30 years and older (35 years and older on an international level) and allows athletes to participate and even represent their countries internationally. With the African Masters Athletics Championships just around the corner, people expected to see top performances from our South African Masters at this year’s provincial championship.

Despite the risk of injury so close to the African Games, four athletes set new records. Johan Gutsche (M55) set a new SA high jump record (1.75 m), Dinah Heymans (W55) set a new Africa high jump record (1.46 m), Hans Miekautch (M85) set a new SA triple jump record (7.02 m), and Ena Fourie (W75) set a new SA shot put record with a distance of 8.17 m.

Parys Multisport Masters Athletes also competed with great success and raked in 9 medals this year. Reandi Bronkhorst won three medals: 100 m (gold), 200 m (gold), and long jump (gold). Eddie Bronkhorst received three medals: 100 m (silver), 200 m (silver), and long jump (gold). Neels Koorzen received three medals: 400 m (bronze), 1,500 m (silver), and long jump (silver).

Parys Multisport congratulates all the athletes on their participation and achievements at this year’s Free State Masters Athletics Championship. The club also thanks the sponsors, FSMA, SAMA, ASA, AFS, and every volunteer for presenting a successful championship event. We wish our athletes all the best and look forward to seeing them in South African colours when they compete at the African Games in Pretoria in November.

Photos: Ferdie Jordaan