Tiaan Smit (WPA) broke the SA Record in the junior men’s 110m hurdles when he crossed the line in 13.51sec on the third day at the SA Sub-youth, Youth, Junior and Under 23 Championships at Pilditch stadium in Tshwane.
The previous record of 13.71 was set by Tshepo Lefete’s on 3 April 2011 in Germiston.
“I came out here to break the SA record,” said the 18 year old after the race. Smit improved on his best performance of the season (13.75sec in Bellville on 9 March with a strong wind of 3.3m/sec from behind) and his goal is to be selected for the Africa Junior Championships team.
Angus Julies from Western Province Athletics got the silver medal while Ryno Steyn (AFS) finished third, their times 13.81sec and 13.95sec respectively.
In the 200m, Palframan beat Alyssa Conley from Central Gauteng in 23.46sec. Conley crossed the line in 23.67sec followed by Sonja van der Merwe (WPA) in 23.78sec.
However, there was more excitement in the 400m as Palframan and Sonja van der Merwe (WPA) battled it out to the finish line. A photo finish was needed to determine the winner. In the end, it was Van der Merwe that won the race in 53.32sec. The Western Province athlete only started training in August again after a four month period recovering from an injury. Anuscha Nice (AGN) finished third, her time 55.77sec.
World Youth Champion Reinard van Zyl won the junior men’s javelin throw with a season’s best of 69.65m. Van Zyl’s best performance of the season was 63.17m with the goal of getting to the 70m mark. Stephan Beukes (ACNW) and teammate LJ Basson got silver and bronze, their distances measured 65.83m and 63.67m respectively.
Phillipa van der Merwe could not add the junior women’s 200m title to her gold in the 100m for junior women as she finished behind Stacey Welsch (WPA) in 24.59sec. Welsch clocked 24.41sec with Shanice Marnice third in 24.64sec.
Hammer throw has been an item dominated by white athletes, but a new talented youth boy from the Free State is someone to look out for in the future of South African hammer throw with his consistent distances. Tshepang Makhethe won the youth boys hammer thow with a distance of 70.83m. Alan Cummings (EPA) finished in the silver medal position with 61.87m. Jason Clark (ASWD) took the bronze medal; his best attempt measured 55.43m.
For the full results of all three days of the event please visit athletics.org.za.
(Report Courtesy, René de Klerk, ASA)
