eThekwini, SA 27Feb10

Saturday, 27 February 2010 Naude and Mokoena highlight in eThekwini

eThekwini, South Africa - Discus thrower Elizna Naude stole the limelight at the second Yellow Pages Track and Field Series meet staged at Kings Park Stadium in eThekwini South Africa on Friday night (26).

A strong headwind on the home straight significantly dented hopes of athletes vying to achieve the Commonwealth Games ‘A’ qualifying standard. The event served to gauge fitness levels of athletes aspiring to represent the country at the forthcoming 13th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha, Qatar next month (12-14 March).

Naude signalled her return to topform when she hurled the discus to a distance of 64.49m. This is well inside the Commonwealth Games ‘A’ qualifying standard of 62m. Unlike most athletes she relished the opportunity of competing against the prevailing headwind.

“I am glad to get over the business of qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. I can now concentrate more on training to defend my Africa title at the Africa championships in Nairobi (Kenya) in July,” Naude explained.

“In my experience throwing the discus against the wind has aerodynamic advantages. I get far better results than when there is no wind. This is the third best throw of my career. I hope later in the year to better my African record (64.87),” says Naude.

Windy 8.22m for Mokoena

Staying on the infield, Olympic silver medallist Godfrey Khotso Mokoena showed he has recovered from a injury in his right quadriceps. His winning leap of 8.22m, albeit wind assisted (+5.7), indicates his preparations are well on track ahead of the World Indoor Championships where he is the defending champion.

Runner up Luvo Manyonga (8.05m) for the first time surpassed the 8m threshold though he had a +5.5 wind reading to his advantage.

“The tail wind…affects the rhythm in my run up before the jump. I expect a better showing next week in Potchefstroom. I have to get it right before I go to Doha,” said Mokoena.

Ramolefi in form

Reuben Ramolefi braved the elements and won his first 3000m Steeplechase of the year in a creditable 8:25.50. A brave effort by Edwin Molepo, which saw him stay at Ramolefi’s shoulders until he began to fade in the last 600m, paid off as he clocked an impressive 8:36.83. This is just outside his life time best of 8:35.43 at the 2009 World Student Games in Belgrade (Serbia) last year.

“With this strong headwind I opted to run conservatively so that I have a strong finish,” confirmed Ramolefi. Previously running under these conditions I would have covered the distance in about 8:35 or 8:40. So this is a good result as I am not far from my best time of 8:11.63,” Ramolefi explained.

Van Zyl back with coach

African champion Louis van Zyl got his season off to a promising start completing the 400m Hurdles in 49.49 sec. He reckons this is a good omen of things to come. “I am back with my former coach Hennie Kotze. During the two years when he was a coach in Saudi Arabia my performance suffered at the Beijing Olympic and the World Championships in Berlin. Now that I am back training with him I expect to achieve better results,” said Van Zyl.

Mulaudzi wins 1500

World 800m champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi stuck to his strategy of holding back with the lead group before outpacing his opponents in the sprint for the finish line in the 1500m. Six athletes were practically together at the bell when Mulaudzi accelerated to take a slight lead. He held onto win the race in a slow but tactical 3:43.88. He was followed by Windy Jonas (3:44.22) and Elroy Gelant (3:44.25) in that order.

“The strong wind killed any chances of a fast time tonight. So I hang in there with the leaders to reduce the negative effects of this chilly wind and made my break in the last 300m. I am in good shape and hope to improve my competition sharpness in Potchefstroom next week before we go to Doha,” confirmed Mulaudzi.

Mark Ouma for the IAAF

http://www.africanathletics.org/

YELLOW PAGES SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN eTHEKWINI SOUTH AFRICA, FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2010

RESULTS

NOTES:
CGQA denotes Commonwealth Games qualifier A Standard
CGQB denotes Commonwealth Games qualifier B Standard
Only result of events that were completed (no heats)
All Athletes are South African unless otherwise mentioned.
PB denotes Personal Best

MEN
100m A (-3.0): 1 Simon Magakwe 10.65; 2 Leigh Julius 10.79; 3 Hannes Dreyer 10.83; 4 Hitivirue Kaanjuka (Namibia) 10.92; 5 Rapula Sefenyatso 10.93; 6 Tshegofatso Meshoe 11.10; 7 Sabelo Bhodoza 11.23

100m B (-4.1): 1 Quintin Hitge 11.36; 2 Siphimandla Ngwenya 1.36; 3 Pierre Marais 11.52; 4 Renier Koen 11.52

200m A (-3.7): 1Tshegofatso Meshoe 21.68; 2 Hannes Dreyer 21.78; 3 Rapula Sefenyatso 21.89; 4 Isaak van Wyk 21.90; 5 Simon Magakwe 21.96; 6 Hitivirue Kaanjuka (Namibia) 22.15; 7 Sibusiso Mkhize 23.01

200m B (-3.4): 1 Mosilo Lehata (Lesotho) 22.46; 2 Braam van Tubbergh 22.55; 3 Siphimandla Ngwenya 22.55; 4 Sabelo Tshela 22.62

400m: 1 Ofentse Mogawane 46.55; 2 Oscar Pistorius 47.86; 3 Pieter Marx 47.88; 4 Jacob Ramokoka 47.97; 5 Shane Victor 47.98; 6 Dwayne Andrews 49.28; 7 Paul Gorries 49.88; 8 Sibisuso Madlala 52.92

400m Hurdles: 1 Louis van Zyl 49.49 CGQB; 2 Cornel Fredericks 50.25; 3 Wouter le Roux 51.02; 4 Pieter Koekemoer 51.55; 5 Johan Hanekom 51.72; 6 Relehobile Mosito (Lesotho) 54.76;

1500m: 1 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi 3:43.88; 2 Windy Jonas 3:44.22; 3 Elroy Gelant 3:44.25; 4 Pharson Magagane 3:46.06; 5 Molefe Molefe 3:46.68; 6 Sajeesh Joseph (India) 3:47.01; 7 Mthombisi Baloyi 3:47.49; 8 Isaac Mbuyase 3:48.14; 9 Tshamano Setone 3:51.24; 10 Adriaan Geldenhuys 3:52.31; 11 Daniel Nghipandulwa (Namibia) 3:52.50; 12 Jacques Pretorius 3:54.25; 13 Jan Masenamela 3:58.28; 14 Dean Brummer 3:59.64; 15 Hlongwe Malwande 4:00.08; 16 Anele Faku 4:02.34; 17 Lungile Faku 4:11.91; 18 Selby Math 4:12.88

3000m Steeplechase: 1 Reuben Ramolefi 8:25.50 CGQB; 2 Edwin Molepo 8:36.83; 3 Thuso Phaswana 9:17.98; 4 Lukhanyo Mabinza 9:20.59; 5 Sithembele Fanekho 9:26.59; 6 Olweto Mhlaba 9:29.10; 7 Terrance Mukona 9:32.15

10km Walk (On the Track): 1 Wayne Snyman 47:30:45; 2 Gideon Cillie 47:53:75; 3 Wade Fraser 48:49:42; 4 Oxley Africa 53:09:50

Long Jump: 1 Khotso Mokoena 8.22 (+5.7) CGQA; 2 Luvo Manyonga 8.05 (+5.5) PB/CGQB; 3 Zaarck Visser 7.78 (+3.1); 4 Keenan Watson 7.63 (+5.9); 5 Adejumo Adewale (Nigeria) 7.44 (5.3); 6 Quintin Hitge 6.77 (+3.3)

Triple Jump: 1 Tumelo Thagane 16.81 (+3.9) CGQB; 2 Boipelo Motlahlego 14.79 (+3.2); 3 Andile Mtshali 13.73 (+2.0)

Hammer: 1 Chris Harmse 69.89; 2 JK Kruger 63.14; 3 Kritsiaan Bekker 62.29; 4 Rudolf Roodt 43.33; 5 Robert Schreun 35.82

WOMEN

100m (-2.2):1 Cindy Stewart 12.21; 2 Srabani Nanda (India) 12.51; 3 Nontobeko Gumede 12.79; 4 Katelyn Palframan 12.98; 4 Carina Horn 12.98; 6 Sibusisiwe Gavu 13.49

200m (-4.5): 1 Justine Palframan 24.92; 2 Cindy Stewart 24.94; 3 Srabani Nanda (India) 25.94; 4 Carina Horn 26.14; 5 Alyssa Conley 26.22; 6 Zoe Engeler 26.51; 7 Katelyn Palframan 26.77; 8 Nontobeko Gumede 27.17

400m: 1 Estie Wittstock 53.82; 2 Tjipekapora Herunga (Namibia) 55.41; 3 Alet van Wyk 55.43; 4 Justine Palframan 55.71; 5 Rorisang Rammonye 55.77; 6 Anneri Ebersohn 58.60; 7 Zoe Engeler 58.73

1500m: 1 Rene Kalmer 4:19.49; 2 Mapaseka Makhanya 4:23.57; 3 Irevette van Blerk 4:27.18; 4 Violet Raseboya 4:27.66; 5 Maxine Heine-Wacker 4:28.67; 6 Dominique Scott 4:31.18; 7 Catherine Skosana 4:38.06; 8 Christine Kalmer 4:47.46; 9 Danielle Adlam 4:51.17; 10 Phuseletso Dladla 4:53. 88; 11 Vuyokazi Gebe 5:12.10; 12 Nandipha Seven 5:23.38

Long Jump: 1 Janice Josephs 6.23 (+5.4); 2 Brittan Smith 5.97 (+6.8); 3 Patience Ntshingila 5.92 (+4.1); 4 Seiloane Tsoaeli (Lesotho) 5.89 (+4.4); 5 Monja Goosen 5.88 (+3.9)

Discus: 1 Elizna Naude 64.49 CGQA; 2 Maryke Oberholzer 50.58; 3 Simone Meyer 48.40

Hammer: 1 Martizette Badenhorst 48.08; 2 Karen le Roux 47.51; 3 Nadia Botha 40.25; 4 Leandri de Beer 35.95

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