At the ASA Grand Prix 1 in Tshwane, South African athletes set two national records, with Leandri Holtzhausen throwing 67.95m in the women’s hammer throw and the women’s 4x400m relay team recording a time of 3:28.30. Notable performances included Karabo Letebele in the 100m and Prudence Sekgodiso in the 800m, marking a successful start to the track and field season.
The inaugural leg of the ASA Grand Prix series, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meeting, witnessed remarkable performances in Tshwane, where two national records were broken. Leandri Holtzhausen notably excelled in the women’s hammer throw, achieving a distance of 67.95 meters and surpassing her previous record of 66.54 meters established last month. Holtzhausen expressed confidence in potentially reaching 70 meters soon, stating that her training has been progressing well.
In another impressive display, the South African women’s 4x400m relay team shattered a nine-year-old national record by finishing with a time of 3:28.30, surpassing the previous record of 3:28.49 set in 2016. The successful team consisted of Shirley Nekhubui, Miranda Coetzee, Marlie Viljoen, and Zeney Geldenhuys. Their relay performance highlighted South Africa’s growing prowess in athletics.
Young sprinter Karabo Letebele emerged victorious in the men’s 100m race, clocking a time of 10.19 seconds, which led to a notable finish against seasoned competitor Emile Erasmus, who also recorded 10.19 seconds, while Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala finished third. Letebele remarked on his performance by emphasizing his approach to race execution, believing this approach allowed him to perform successfully.
In the women’s 800m race, Prudence Sekgodiso secured victory with a remarkable time of 1:59.01, edging out Botswana’s Oratile Nowe, who established a new national record of 1:59.46. Additionally, in the women’s 100m hurdles, Marione Fourie achieved victory with a world-leading time of 12.77 seconds, complementing her preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in China.
Other standout results included Bayapo Ndori of Botswana winning the men’s 400m in 44.59 seconds, while Ketlhobogile Haingura clinched the men’s 800m title at 1:44.67. Aiden Smith secured the men’s shot put with a significant throw of 20.73m. James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa, expressed enthusiasm regarding the impressive record-breaking performances early in the season, praising athletes for setting new benchmarks for future competitors.
The first leg of the ASA Grand Prix series in Tshwane was a resounding success, highlighted by the breaking of national records in both the women’s hammer throw and 4x400m relay. The performances of young athletes like Karabo Letebele and Prudence Sekgodiso indicate a promising future for South African athletics. The event not only showcased individual talents but also set a hopeful tone for the upcoming season, which includes the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Original Source: www.athletics.africa
