Central Gauteng Athletics hosted the final league of the 2024 CGA track and field season at Germiston Stadium on February 24.
Over 1 000 competitors competed, trying to improve their times to earn a spot in the National Track and Field Championships.
Ettienne Smith of Jansen won the men‘s U20 javelin with a throw of 58.95m. Grant Barnes of Germiston Callies came second with a throw of 42.60m, while Linda Mbonani of Waterfall City settled for third, throwing 25.61m.
With a leap distance of 5.72m, Oluchi Ndubueze of IHT won gold in the girls’ U16 long jump. Since then, as a sub-youth athlete, the athlete has dominated this event in her age group. Anna Mart Viljoen of Kempies won the silver medal with a 5.08m leap. Tayla Vorster of MVAC landed 4.90m to take bronze.
The older men in the high jump, UJ, dominated the competition. Gayisa Maswanganyi won with a 2.05m jump, followed by teammate Justin Louwrens in second place with 2.00m, and Ntandoyethu Ndaba, again wearing UJ colours, in third place with 1.90m.
The 200m sprinters competed intriguingly, with the well-known Lythe Pillay representing the UJ team and clocking 21.14. With a time of 21.20, Matthew van Rooijen of FFA took second place. James Tshiyombo of Tembisa came third with a time of 21.54.
One of the most anticipated events of the day was the senior men’s 5 000m race, which saw a field of over 17 competitors, including Marko Bucarizza, Nkosinathi Sibiya, and Precious Mashele.
The event kept spectators on edge in a thrilling competition between Phemelo Ntoe, Sibiya, and Mashele, who led for 12 laps. Unfortunately, Mashele’s day took an unexpected turn when Ntoe passed him on the final two laps, winning in 14:25.01. With a time of 14.42.87, Sibiya, Ntoe’s teammate, came second, while Born to Run’s Bucarriza settled for third.
Now, the emphasis is on hosting the Track and Field Provincial Championships. The CGA U16, U18, U20, and U23 Provincial Championships will be on March 8 and 9.
Later, the Provincial Senior Championships will be held at UJ, Auckland Park Athletics Stadium, on March 16.
Maggie Dicks, the chairperson of the CGA Track and Field Committee, said the province is obliged to ensure the athletes are ready for the national championships and other crucial international competitions, such as the Paris Olympic Games later this year.
