Local athletes, including Anzaret Strauss and Mahlatse Mamonyane, qualified for the Primary Schools National Championships after earning their spots at the provincials at Boksburg Stadium on March 9.
Strauss and Mamonyane impressed in their events but the rematch between fierce middle-distance rivals Chelsea van Dyk and Xantè Harris, in the 800m and 1 500m, stole the show.
The runners last raced each other in the final of the U12 girls’ 3km race during the national cross-country champs where Benonian Van Dyk dethroned Harris to land her first national title.
This time around, however, Harris flipped the script, pipping Van Dyk to the gold in both events.
Van Dyk had a bad race in the 800m after finishing fifth but redeemed herself in the 1 500m, clocking a PB of 05:10 for a bronze medal.
Her coach, Michael van Aswegen, lauded the athlete for her ability to pick herself up after a bad race.
He said, “You have great and bad races but as long as you are able to pick yourself up and identify the positives, you are on the road to success as an athlete.”
Van Aswegen said he was impressed by the depth of talent in Van Dyk’s age-group, adding that the athletes run times equivalent to those two or three years their seniors.
“There are going to be a number of superstars coming out of this special group of girls.”
Strauss sprints to victory
Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) sprinter Anzaret Strauss won the U13 girls’ 200m in 26.07 seconds to also qualify for the nationals.
After winning her heat in 26.28, the youngster posted 26.07 in the semis and repeated a similar performance in the final to earn Ekurhuleni North seven valuable points.
Mamonyane delivered on promise
Mamonyane backed up her billing as a future Olympian when she clocked 03:57 with a sprint down the home straight to win the U11 girls’ 1 200m race, cutting almost five seconds from the 04:02 she posted in her semi-final heat on March 8.
“We are happy with Mahlatse’s progress. She continues to improve and we wish her well at the nationals,” said Mamonyane’s coach, Isaac Ndlovu.
Matthew Pietrouisti, representing Ekurhuleni North, won his heat in the qualifiers with a brilliant 03:46 in the U12 boys’ 1 200m.
In the final, the youngster was part of the leading group until the last lap, but he couldn’t maintain his pace due to a calf strain, to finish outside the medal positions.
Siyanda Madlabane of Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) sealed his spot in the Gauteng team for the nationals after grabbing a silver in the U13 boys’ 1 500m in 04:28.04.
Tshwane South dominated the event after accumulating 336 points. Ekurhuleni South was second with 177 and Ekurhuleni North third with 150 points.
The full results are available on www.boksburgadvertiser.co.za.
The nationals will be held in Polokwane from March 24 to 26.
Also Read: COLUMN: Township talent being forced to ‘retire’ from athletics
Also Read: Former 800m ace worried about athletics development
