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Much as the elite band of the domestic track and field set the SA Senior Athletics Championships ablaze, new kids on the block also signalled their intent during the three-day event that served as the IAAF World Championships qualifier.
While the likes of likes of Caster Semenya (1 500m, 5 000m),
(200m) and Luvo Manyonga (long jump) ascended the podium in their respective events, newest champions were also crowned in the women’s 100m and 800m, as well as in the men’s 400m, 400m hurdles, 1 500m and the hammer throw.
These are the events that were previously dominated by the athletes who mostly represented South Africa at the highest level.
Breaking new ground were female sprinter Tebogo Mamatu (100m); Prudence Sekgodiso (800m); Lindsey Hanekom (400m hurdles); Ryan Mphahlele (1 500m) and Tshepang Makhethe (hammer), who all wrote their own piece of history with some awe inspiring performances at the national track and field meeting that ended in Germiston yesterday.
Mamatu (23) claimed the elusive 100m crown in 11.45 seconds after coming second at the last two editions, while 20-year-old Gardeo Isaacs’ 45.39sec pushed him to the 400m that was once held by megastar Wayde van Niekerk not so long ago.
World recordholder Van Niekerk withdrew from competition on Day 1 as a precaution on his reconstructed knee due to the wet and chilly weather.
The story of the championships was arguably Tshepang Makhethe (23), who despite not competing in an event that is not as popular as the sprints, particularly among athletes of colour, broke the 23-year-old winning streak of his mentor Chris Harmse.
Harmse (45) won his first national title before Makhethe was born but the tables turned on Friday when the lad from Sasolburg in the Free State posted a personal best throw of 72.25m to clinch his maiden SA senior title after six years of trying. Harmse took silver with his 71.70m effort.
Said Makhethe: “Hopefully, I can carry on the legacy that Chris started to take SA back to the top of Africa, the world and the Olympics.”
Makhethe will next represent the country at the World Students Games in Italy from July 3 to 14.
Meanwhile, Semenya defended her 1 500m on Friday, a day after she clinched her maiden 5 000m title.
Simbine also won his first SA 200m crown yesterday, holding off a strong field that had world championships bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana.
On Thursday, Simon Magakwe notched up his eighth national 100m title in 10.05 seconds.
In the long jump, Manyonga lifted the crown ahead of Ruswahl Samaai and Zarck Visser yesterday.
Next up, most athletes will venture onto the European circuit in search for qualifying marks for the World Championships in Doha from September 27 to October 26.
. World half-marathon recordholder Abraham Kiptum was on Friday suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) before today’s London Marathon.
The AIU charged the Kenyan with an athlete biological passport violation under IAAF anti-doping rules.
