Athletics South Africa (ASA) will send a 66 member team to the upcoming 16th CAA African Senior Track and Field Championships.
The event, which also forms part of ASA’s plans for the Beijing Olympic Games, takes place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 30 April to 4 May 2008.
Ekkart Arbeit, ASA’s head coach is upbeat about the team’s preparations for Beijing.
He said about the African Championships: "The competition is going to be tough, but we expect more athletes to qualify for Beijing.
"For example Tsholofelo Thipe (400m) could be pulled by her counterparts to qualify IAAF A standard.
"Geraldine Pillay has also recovered completely from her injury sustained at the Yellow Pages Series in Germiston earlier this year. She is training at full pace."
South Africa is the powerhouse of track and field, with the likes of Kenya and Ethiopia taking the lead in the middle and long distance events.
Nigeria, Ghana and Botswana will provide good competition for the South Africa sprinters, while Egypt will deliver challenges in the throws.
South Africa will be going into the continent competition defending their title. SA finished top of the medal table at the last champs in Mauritius in 2006.
The final team to Ethiopia is:
Men
Hannes Dreyer (AGN) 100m, 200m, 4 x100m; Kagisho Kumbane (AFS) 100m, 200m 4 x100m; Thuso Mpaung (AFS) 200m; Sergio Mullins (KZNA) 200m, 4 x 100m; Corne du Plessis (CGA) 200m, 4 x 100m; Ofentse Mogawane (AGN), 400m; Pieter Smith (AGN) 400m; Sibusiso Sishi (KZNA) 400m; Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (CGA) 800m; Samson Ngoepe (CGA) 800m; Juan van Deventer (CGA) 1500m; Johan Cronje (AFS) 1500m; Boy Soke (AFS) 5000m; Siyabonga Nkonde (KZNA) 10000m; Janko Kotze (CGA) 110m hurdles; Hennie Kotze (AGN) 110m hurdles; Ter de Villiers (AGN) 400m hurdles; Alwyn Myburgh(AVT) 400m Hurdles; Okkert Cilliers (ACNW) 400m Hurdles; Ruben Ramolefi (CGA) 3000m Steeplechase; Tshamano Setone (CGA) 3000m Steeplechase; Thami Hlatshwayo (AGN) 20km Walk; Marc Mundell (AGN) 20km Walk; Werner Appel (ACNW) 20km Walk; Hubert de Beer (AGN) High Jump; Ramsay Carelse (WPA) High Jump; Khotso Mokoena (CGA) Long Jump; Keenan Watson (BOLA) long jump; Yaw Fosu-Amoah (AGN) long jump; Tumelo Thagane (ANCW) Triple Jump; Ross Jordaan (BOLA) shot put; Janus Robberts (BOLA) Shot Put; Roelie Potgieter (AGN) shot put; Hannes Hopley (CGA) discus; Chris Harmse (AFS) Hammer; Robert Oosthuizen (BOLA) javelin; Willem Coertzen (ACNW) Decathlon
Women
Geraldine Pillay (WPA) 100m; Isabel le Roux (AGN) 100m/200m; Estie Wittstock (AGN) 100m/200m; Tsholofelo Thipe (ANWN) 400m; Tihanna Vorster (AGN) 400m; Lebo Phalula (CGA) 800m; Lebogang Phalula (CGA) 800m/1500m; Rene Kalmer (CGA) 1500m; Zintle Xiniwe (WPA) 5000m; Christine Ras (CGA) 100m Hurdles; Janet Wienand (ACNW) 400m Hurdles; Tebogo Masehla (CGA) 3000m Steeplechase; Ruzanne Harris (BOLA) 20km Walk; Michelle Hopkins (CGA) 20km Walk; Nomsa Buthelezi (CGA) 20km Walk; Anika Smit (ACNW) High Jump; Marizca Gertenbach (AFS) High Jump; Marcoleen Pretorius (AVT) High Jump; Eva Thornton(EPA) Pole Vault; Deone Joubert (CGA) Pole Vault; Lindi Roux (BOLA) Pole Vault; Janice Josephs (BOLA) Long Jump; Simone du Toit (ACNW) Shot Put; Veronica Abrahamse (KZNA) Shot Put; Elizna Naude (AGN) Discus; Marizette Badenhorst (AFS) Hammer; Karin le Roux (BOLA) Hammer throw; Justine Robbeson (ACNW) Javelin; Sunette Viljoen (ACNW) Javelin
Team Managers:
Kakata Maponyane-Head of Delegation; Wilfred Daniels-Team Manager. Team Coaches: Ekkart Arbeit (Head coach); Magda Botha (Sprints); Angus Pohl (Jumps); Terseus Liebenberg (Throws); JP Van Der Merwe (Middle & Long Distance). Physiotherapists: Michael Mabasa; Tumelo Komane and Team Doctor: Dr. Maaki Ramagole