Robberts and Pienaar back on track in Tshwane
Saturday 28 January 2006
Tshwane, South Africa - The second meeting of Athletics South Africa’s new Track and Field Challenge series witnessed some very impressive performances headed by four men going under-50 seconds in the 400m Hurdles, an 84m Javelin Throw by Hardus Pienaar, and a 21m Shot Put from Janus Robberts, at the Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane yesterday (27).
Back to form
26-year-old Janus Robberts, the African record holder who put 21.97m in 2001, but was not over 21m last year and also bombed out in the qualification round of the World Championships in Helsinki, came away with a season’s best of 21.06m put yesterday. The 2002 and 2004 African champion had a previous 2006 best of 20.49 (13 Jan), and won in the first Track and Field Challenge series meet in Secunda (23 Jan) with 19.88m. Now Robberts, who will turn 27 on 10 March, has thrown himself into the position of gold medal favourite for the Commonwealth Games which take place at the end of that month.
Return from injury
Also in the infield, javelin thrower Hardus Pienaar, 24, made a triumphant return to competition with a 84.28m release in his first appearance since taking third in the ABSA meeting in Pretoria on 18 March 2005 (73.40m). “I want everyone to know that I am back after my knee operation. Throwing just 22 centimetres off my career best is an indication this could be my best year,” confirmed a delighted Pienaar.
Quick revenge for Secunda defeat
On the track, Louis Van Zyl, the sixth place finisher at last summer’s World Championships in Helsinki, who had been edged for victory in the opening Challenge meet (in Secunda, 23 Jan) by 2000 World Junior 400m Hurdles silver medallist Ter de Villiers, prevailed in the 400m Hurdles, winning in 48.84. De Villiers was second in 49.07, Alwyn Myburgh, third, 49.08, and Pieter Koekomoer, fourth in 49.97.
“After the long season last year I established the rhythm of running under 49 seconds. I have always started conservatively and surged towards the end. If I can start a bit faster, then I will be in with a chance of running under 48 seconds this year,” said Van Zyl.
In the flat 400m, Ofentse Mogawane, drawn in lane one, surged with 150m to go to win in 45.78, with Molefe Califonia second (45.85), ahead of Jan an der Merwe (46.07). Mogawane’s time was a marked improvement from last week’s 48.48 run at the ASA Challenge meet in Secunda. “I found it difficult competing on a wet track and in the chilly weather conditions. Besides I was competing on home ground in front of the people who see me training here day in day out. There is no way I was going to let them down,” says Mogawane.
There was a thriller of a sprint hurdles in which Frikkie van Zyl (13.82) was judged the winner over Shaun Bownes (13.82) and Ruan de Vries (13.86).
Another notable performance came as Chris Harmse (77.20m) comfortably won the Hammer Throw. “This year I want to enjoy myself and not place myself under pressure to achieve certain distances. Although I improved the Africa record last year I always felt under pressure. For now my objective is to clinch a medal at the Commonwealth Games,” said Harmse
Elsewhere in this attractive meeting, Estonia’s Helsinki silver medallist Gerd Kanter (65.07) won the Discus Throw, while South Africa’s 2003 World champion Jacques Freitag (2.24) prevailed in High Jump. Khotso Mokoena (16.50) won in Triple Jump, and Adri Schoeman clocked 51.77 in the women’s 400m.
Mark Ouma for the IAAF
SELECTED LEADING RESULTS
NR denotes National Record
PB denotes Personal Best
NWR denotes no wind reading
Note All Athletes are South Africans unless otherwise mentioned
MEN
100m (-1.2)
1 Jean du Randt 10.44
2 Snyman Prinsloo 10.46
3 Hannes Dreyler 10.47
100m (-1.3)
1 Christiaan Krone 10.73
2 Tlhalosang Molapisi (Botswana) 10.83
3 Sylvester Abrahams 10.88
100m C (+0.7)
1 Christofer Sandin (Sweden) 10.65
2 Thabo Mathbidi 10.90
200m A (+0.2)
1 Snyman Prinsloo 20.70
2 Hannes Dreyler 20.97
3 Corne du Plessis 21.28
200m B (+1.0)
1 Thabo Mathbidi 21.34
2 Michael Koch 21.71
400m A
1 Ofentse Mogawane 45.78
2 Molefe California (Botswana) 45.85
3 Jan van der Merwe 46.07
400m B
1 Obakeng Ngwigwa (Botswana) 46.48
2 Sidwell Miti 46.68
3 Jacob Ramokoka 46.89
400m C
1 Gakologelwang Masheto (Botswana) 46.50
2 Oganeditse Moseki (Botswana) 47.34
3 Tumelo Raphiri 47.46
110m Hurdles (+0.2)
1 Frikkie van Zyl 13.82
2 Shaun Bownes 13.82
3 Ruan de Vries 13.86
400m Hurdles A
1 Louis van Zyl 48.84
2 Ter de Villiers 49.07
3 Alwyn Myburgh 49.08
4 Pieter Koekomoer 49.97
400m Hurdles B
1 Weikus Jonck 52.23
800m A
1 Juan van Deventer 1:47.72
2 Werner Botha 1:48.04
3 Adriaan van Wyk 1:48.04
800m B
1 Conrad Cooke 1:52.32
1500m
1 Samson Ngoepe 3:48.58
2 Jordam Chipangama 3:49.98
3 Esau Mbatha 3:51.30
3000m
1 Tshamano Setone 8:00.08
2 Motsamai Motone 8:01.95
3 Reuben Ramolefi 8:06.61
Long Jump
1 Fasu-Amoah Yaw 7.84 (+0.9)
2 Martin McClintoch 7.76 (NWR)
3 Garenamotse Gable (Botswana) 7.69 (NWR)
Triple Jump
1 Khotso Mokoena 16.50 (-0.8)
2 Jason Kidza-Sewanyana 15.57 (NWR)
3 Charles le Roux 15.07 (NWR)
High Jump
1 Jacques Freitag 2.24
2 Ioannou Kyriakos (Cyprus) 2.20
3 Onnaye Ramohube (Botswana) 2.15
Javelin
1 Hardus Pienaar 84.28
2 Lohan Rautenbach 71.57
3 Brian Erasmus 71.02
Discus
1 Gerd Kanter (Estonia) 65.07
2 Hannes Hopley 62.01
3 Mart Israel 57.82
Shot Put
1 Janus Robberts 21.06
2 Hannes Hopley 19.05
3 Rolie Potgieter 18.34
Hammer Throw
1 Chris Harmse 77.20
2 Johan Harmse 57.32
3 Conradie Meyer 50.04
4x100m
1 South Africa A 40.37
2 Pretoria University Disqualified
4x400m
1 South Africa 3:05.58
2 Botswana 3:06.21
3 Pretoria University 3:10.48
WOMEN
100m A (-1.2)
1 Wendy Seegers 11.75
2 Cindy Stewart 11.87
3 Thandi Vilakazi 12.03
100m B (-0.5)
1 Mia Seidler 12.48
2 Cherese Jones 12.59
3 Danielle Wills 12.86
200m A (+0.1)
1 Ilane Kruger 24.54
2 Thandi Vilakazi 24.73
3 Michelle Andrew 24.73
400m
1 Adri Schoeman 51.77
2 Estie Wittstock 52.34
3 Surita Febbraio 52.67
100m Hurdles (+0.2)
1 Baourda Morfo (Cyprus) 13.63
2 Sune Labuschagne 14.17
3 Christine Ras 14.20
800m
1 Marlene Breytenbach 2:03.82
2 Lebohang Phalula 2:04.14
3 Chanelle Olivier 2:04.58
1500m
1 Viola Raseboya 4:32.04
2 Mapaseka Makhanya 4: 32.86
3 Nicolene van Rooyan 4:33.83
3000m
1 Tebogo Masehla 9:24.93
2 Ronel Thomas 9:27.09
3 Rene kalmer 9:35.89
Long Jump
1 Karin Mey 6.33 (+0.2)
2 Delia Visser 6.22 (NWR)
3 Charleen Henning 5.90 (NWR)
High Jump
1 Anika Smit 1.85
2 Rene van der Merwe 1.75
3 Farmaka Loulia (Cyprus) 1.75
Pole Vault
1 Samantha Dodd 4.15
2 Lindi Roux 3.70
3 Deone Joubert 3.40
Javelin
1 Sunette Viljoen 55.85
2 Linda Smit 51.80
3 Anzel van der Schyff 45.33
Discus
1 Elizna Naude 56.28
2 Simone du Toit 51.15
3 Ursula Fourie 42.53
Shot Put
1 Simone du Toit 15.75
2 Ursula Fourioe 10.96