Several athletes from the Boksburg Athletic Club (BAC) and Benoni Northerns Athletics Club (BNAC) are in line to be selected to represent Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) at the ASA junior national championships in Potchefstroom from March 31 to April 2.
This comes after the athletes dominated their disciplines at the CGA track and field provincial championships on March 12 at Germiston Stadium.
CGA held two meetings before the provincials. The organisation’s general manager Mandla Radebe confirmed that the selection criteria will be based on overall participation and performance so far this season.
“The provincial championships did not disappoint as they were expected to be very exciting as athletes are in good shape to compete. They were seeking qualifications for the national championships, which are scheduled to take place in Potchefstroom.
“CGA will be selecting a team to represent the province of which the criteria include participation in 50% of leagues for the current season and most importantly meeting the qualifying standards,” Radebe said.
The athletes who are in good contention include BAC’s Kelly Etafia, Keira Fouche, Cessandra Raath and Annika Greef and the BNAC’s Moetlo Sefoka.
High jump sensation Etafia leapt to a season-best of 1.60m in the girls’ u-18 at the provincials to claim first place. In the previous two CGA meetings, she had won with jumps of 1.55m. She told the paper that she needs to work more on her execution.
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“Overall it was a great win. My jumps were not as smooth as I would have liked them to be. I did expect to jump higher than 1.60.
“I competed with no expectations. I was more focused on making sure I executed my jumps with no mistakes as well as just enjoying the competition. Winning was the icing on the cake,” she said.
Etafia added that she is preparing hard because competition at the nationals is tough.
“I will be competing on a much bigger stage so it’s important to continue with the rituals that have got me this far.”
Fouche staked her claim when she sprinted to the finish line in 12.64 seconds to win on March 12. It was an improvement from the 12.76 seconds she posted in the second meeting where she finished second.
Greef finished second in the girls’ u18 long jump, posting a distance of 5.76m. Raath won the girls’ u16 90m hurdles, finishing in 13.57 seconds.
The BNAC’s Moetlo Sefoka has been on form in the high jump. He has finished first at all meetings. The Benoni High learner has maintained his personal best of 1.75m in the boys’ u16 high jump.
He said he has his eyes at the ultimate prize at the nationals.
“It was a very challenging day for me at the provincials. The competition was tough but I managed to maintain my personal best and won a gold medal in the high jump. In the long jump, I was third.
“At the nationals, the competition is of a high standard. I’m going there to enjoy myself and to gain experience,” he said.
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