Athletics South Africa (10/08/2007)

The Athletics South Africa (ASA) has released the list of 28 top medal hopes for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics holding in Osaka, Japan at the end of the month.

The team to be accompanied by 11 Officials will leave South Africa on Saturday, 11 August to a training camp in Beijing, China for two weeks before heading off to Japan for the Championships.

ASA President, Mr Leonard Chuene said: "This is a well balanced team that has combined youth and experience.

"I am more than convinced that Athletics has a future in this country considering the number of young athletes who have achieved the required standards to be in the team.

"This also bodes well for our preparations for the Olympic Games as these youngsters will gain the much needed experience at the World Championships. ASA has put the necessary plans in place to support these athletes in their quest to be the best.

"The training camp in Beijing will serve two purposes in that it will provide opportunity for the athletes to acclimatize before their competition in Osaka and at the same time it will give the athletes a glimpse on the conditions that will prevail next year at the Olympic Games."

"This we hope will be factored in the athletes’ preparations for the 2008 Games", Chuene added.

Athletics South Africa has included the latest sprint sensations Nombulelo Mkenku and Kagisho Kumbane, both of whom are still Juniors.

Mkenku stunned the sprinting world by running to a silver medal at the recent All Africa Games in an impressive 11.27sec, the fastest time by both a Junior and Senior athlete this year in South Africa.

Kumbane is the South African Junior sprint champion and will line up in the 4x100m relay squad.

Athletes who have withdrawn due to injury are Lee-Roy Newton (4 x 100m relay); Justine Robbeson (Javelin) and Elizna Naude (Discus).

Robbeson tore an intercostal muscle three weeks ago, which puts her out of action for eight weeks, and Naude has been battling with a back injury since the beginning of July.

"It is indeed sad that these three athletes have had to withdraw as they were finalist and potential medal winners, but such is the nature of the sport," concluded the ASA President.

Full team delegation list:

OFFICIALS

• Molatelo Malehopo (Team Manager)
• Diane Sandford (Team Manager)
• Humile Bogatsu (Administrator)
• Elna de Beer (Jumps)
• Vusi Madlala (Distances)
• Letitia Muller (Throws)
• Ally Mahomed (Sprints)
• Godfrey Sepuru (Physiotherapist)
• Dan Ntseke (Physiotherapist)
• Theo Koen (Doctor)

MEN

• Sherwin Vries (100m, 4x100m) KZNA;
• Morne Nagel (200M, 4X100M) AGN;
• Christiaan Krone (200M, 4X100M) AGN;
• Shaun Bownes (110mh) ACNW;
• Alwyn Myburgh (400mH) AGN;
• Pieter de Villiers (400mH) AGN;
• LJ van Zyl (400mH) AGN;
• Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (800m) CGA;
• Ruben Ramolefi (3000m) CGA;
• Khotso Mokoena (Long Jump) CGA;
• Robert Oosthuizen (Javelin) BOLA;
• Gerhardus Pienaar (Javelin) AGN;
• Chris Harmse (Hammer) AFS;
• Hendrick Ramaala (Marathon) CGA;
• Norman Dlomo (Marathon) AVT;
• George Mofokeng (Marathon) AGN;
• Bethuel Netshifhefhe (Marathon) AGN;
• Zongamele Dyubeni (Marathon) CGA;
• Kagisho Kumbane (4x100m) KZNA;
• Leigh Julius (4x100m) EPA;
• Snyman Prinsloo (4x100m) AGN.

WOMEN

• Constance Mkenku (100m) AFS;
• Geraldine Pillay (200m) WPA;
• Janice Josephs (Long Jump) BOLA;
• Karin Mey (Long Jump) AGN;
• Tebogo Masehla (Steeplechase) CGA;
• Poppy Mlambo (Marathon) CGA;
• Tanith Maxwell (Marathon) KZNA.