Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) hosted its final leg of the track and field season at Boksburg Stadium on March 13.
The day began as bright as the Saturday morning sunshine as Lythe Pillay, who’s already qualified for the country’s 4x100m Olympic relay team, lit things up in the 400m senior men category.
He put on an exceptional show to set his new personal best time of 0:45.53, which bettered his previous time of 0:45.74 he set in the first meeting of the year,
which also took part at the mecca of Boksburg sports. The mark of 0:45.74 was enough to earn him qualification for the World Juniors Championships.
Elsewhere, the shot-put event proved to be one of the most competitive.
Kyle Blignaut took on his teammate Jason van Rooyen of UJ, with Heugene Murray of Benoni Northerns Athletics Club also featuring. Blignaut dominated the senior men category to secure the first position within a distance of 20.50m.
Van Rooyen showed good strength to produce an effort of 20:21m, which earned him second place. Murray was a distant third with a throw of 12.07m.
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Sticking to throwing, Mine de Klerk set a new women’s u-19 record in what was her second CGA meeting this year. The Welkom athlete produced an effort of 35.32m to smash the previous long-standing record of 35.07m set by Simone du Toit in 2006.
Mine de Klerk (18) of Flammingo Athletics Club, based in Welkom, set a new record in u-19 discuss event in her second victory appearance at CGA first Track and Field league this season.
De Klerk set a new record with a throw of 35.32m. She broke a record set by Simone du Toit of 35.07m in 2006.
Back on track, the 3 000m senior men race starred 2019 Comrades Marathon winner Edward Mothibi who would go on to finish in a respectable seventh position in the time of 08:25.75.
Ryan Mphahlele took the race by the scruff of the neck when he accelerated from the leading group in the second lap and never looked back.
The runaway winner clocked 08:16.64. Simon Sibeko settled for second place for the third consecutive time this season with a time of 08:25.75.
CGA general manager Mandla Radebe said that the athletes were very excited to compete and that these meetings are one of the major duties of the province, which is to create platforms for athletes to compete.
This will also assist athletes in preparing and also qualify for international competitions including the Olympic Games.
“Our next big event will be the provincial championships, which will be held over two days on March 26 and 27 at the Boksburg Stadium. We are looking at making sure that the best athletes qualify and represent the province at the National Championships,” he explained.
Also Read: Athletes regroup for second CGA Track and Field league
