It was a true full circle moment for Potchefstroom hurdles coach, Shaun Bownes, who saw his young and talented athlete, Franco le Roux, break his own African record in the men’s 60m hurdles at the 2006 World Indoor Athletics Championships in Poland.
Le Roux, an NWU athlete and ACNW representative, broke the record in the heats in a time of 7.50 seconds, eclipsing Bownes’ record of 7.52 that was set in Belgium in February 2001.
An excited and proud Bownes stated that this record breaking achievement was part of Le Roux’s goals for the World Indoor Championships, which included reaching the final and winning a medal.
Le Roux managed to complete two of those goals when he reached the final, ending in an overall seventh place in a time of 7.51, which is a fantastic achievement for the young 20-year-old. Jakub Szymanski of Poland took the win in 7.40, beating hot favourite, Trey Cunningham, into second place.
Le Roux, who is a former Grey College old boy, will take heart from this performance and will look to grow in leaps and bounds in the year ahead. Le Roux is also the current defending SA 110m hurdles champion.
Luan Munnik, another ACNW representative, took seventh place in the men’s 3000m final in a personal best time of 7:37.94.
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