Local athletes in the colors of Gauteng North dominated the weekend’s senior athletics championships and brought home several titles.

Henricho Bruintjies produced a stunning upset on Friday night to close out day one of the ASA Senior Championships in style at Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Bruintjies clocked 10.17 seconds to win the national Men’s 100m title, 0.04 ahead of training partner and SA record holder, Akani Simbine, who appeared to be limping after the race.

“The only thing I wanted was to come here and take the title,” Bruintjies said.

“I haven’t been on the podium for a while, and for me the time was not important. It’s all about the title. My target is to make the title mine when I defend it next year,” he concluded.

Former World Championships bronze medallist, LJ van Zyl proved he was still a force in the Men’s 400m hurdles, drawing clear of former training partner Cornel Fredericks down the home straight to secure victory in 49.34.

It was the 100th time in his career that Van Zyl had dipped under 49.50, as he bagged his eighth national title.

“It’s my 14th SA Senior Championships and I still love the sport a lot,” Van Zyl said. “It has been a fantastic day of athletics.”

Fredericks, returning home from his base in England, took second place in 49.75.  Six athletes from Gauteng North took part in the final in this item. (See video)

In the Women’s 400m hurdles final, Wenda Nel clocked an impressive 54.84 in her first race of the season over her specialist distance, winning gold more than four seconds ahead of silver medallist Anneri Moolman.

“I really hoped for a sub-55 but I didn’t want to put pressure on myself,” Nel said.  “It’s my first race, so I just wanted to break the ice, but I’m very happy with my achievement.”

Defending champion Stephen Mokoka won a tactical Men’s 5 000m race after closing the gap on early leader Elroy Gelant and winning a sprint finish in 13:40.81.

After starting quickly in the Women’s 5 000m final, Irvette van Zyl struggled with a stomach bug, and though she slowed in the second half, set a Personal Best of 16:02.63 to earn the gold medal.

Stephen Mokoka earned his second title on day two. Mokoka, who was targeting a national record in the Men’s 10 000m race after Elroy Gelant assisted with pacing until halfway, somehow slowed in the second half to clock 27:57.50.

It was the second year in a row that Mokoka won the 5 000m/10 000m double, after his triumph in the shorter race on Friday.

Race walker Lebogang Shange set the fastest time ever on SA soil in the Men’s 20km walk, clocking 1:20:42 for the gold medal, while Wayne Snyman continued his rapid progress by setting a personal best of 1:20:46.