Pretoria athletes dominate track events on first day at SA championships
Spectators at the first day of competition at the Senior South African Athletics Championships saw world class action in the track events.
Sprinters were the star performers on Friday, as expected, setting an explosive start on the first of two days of competition at the ASA Senior Track & Field and Combined Events Championships at Kenneth McArthur Athletics Stadium in Potchefstroom.
Brushing off the cool conditions in the evening, Olympic finalist Akani Simbine outclassed a quality line-up to reclaim the SA 100m title he won in Stellenbosch two years ago.
Simbine crossed the line in 9.95, with Olympic 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk dropping down in distance to take the silver medal in 10.04. Thando Roto earned bronze, also clocking 10.04.
“I’m pretty happy with the time, but I came here to get back the title I lost last year, so I’m very happy to reclaim my title,” said Simbine who clocked 9.94 in the semis.
Pre-race favourite Carina Horn, who narrowly missed the SA record (11.06) when she clocked 11.10 in the semifinals, pulled out of the Women’s 100m final due to illness.
In her absence, defending champion Alyssa Conley stormed to victory in 11.41, edging Tebogo Mamatu into second position by 0.03.
In other events, upcoming Tuks star Le Roux Hamman won a tightly contested Men’s 400m Hurdles final in 49.35, ahead of former title holder LJ van Zyl (49.52) and Constant Pretorius (49.83) with Gauteng North sweeping the podium.
Wenda Nel, the defending champion, won the Women’s one-lap race over the barriers by more than three seconds, securing gold in 55.16.
In the Women’s 5 000m contest, Kesa Molotsane delivered a frightening kick over the last lap, winning the race in 16:22.30 after a hard-fought battle against Irvette van Zyl, who took second, and Nolene Conrad, who ended third.
Thabang Mosiako also thrust of his life on the straight in the final lap to earn the Men’s 5 000m crown in 14:03.84 in a notable upset of the opening day, outsprinting Olympic Games finalist Elroy Gelant who took silver in a strong field which included bronze medallist Stephen Mokoka.
Athletics SA has now confirmed as correct the entrant of SA-born athlete Karin Mey, who earned bronze for Turkey at the 2009 World Championships. While she will compete as an individual for Gauteng North, as a dual citizen, she now qualifies to earn a medal in the Women’s Long Jump event on Saturday.
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