Athletes shine at Germiston Stadium for championships
The National Track and Field Championships will be attended by a team from the province, according to the CGA.
Athletes set new records during the Central Gauteng Athletics two-day provincial track and field championships at Germiston Stadium on March 10 and 11.
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The championships followed the hosting of five leagues where athletes excelled and the province received strong support.
Athletes from sister provinces and nearby countries, such as Botswana, Lesotho and Mozambique were at also this season’s competitions.
In the 5 000m senior men’s event Ryan Mphlahlele pulled a showstopper when he bettered the 32-year-old stadium record of 13:48:35 set by Richard Chelimo during the Unity Games in 1992.
Mphahlele secured his gold medal with his time of 13:46:57. His teammate, Maxime Chaumeton, settled for a silver medal with Kabelo Seboko taking the bronze.
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It was a great weekend for Mphahlele as he also claimed a gold medal in the senior men’s 1 500m race with a time of 03:37:57.
One of the highlights was the sprint sensation and 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships gold medalist, Lythe Pillay of UJ who showcased his fine form to secure a gold medal in the senior men’s 400m event. Pillay clocked 45:50 followed by his teammate Mbuso Nyambi in the second position in a time of 48:33. Third place on the CGA podium with a bronze medal was Kabelo Moholobela.
The senior men’s 800m event saw UJ dominating when the team claimed three podium positions with Boikanyo Motlhame in the first with a time of 1:49:47, Neo Hlalukane clocking 1:50:47 to take home a silver medal and the bronze medal went to Tshegofatso Nwangu with 1:51:90.
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The 1 500m men’s U20 event resulted in a competitive battle between CGA’s most promising male athlete of 2022,Johannes Morepe and Sibusiso Msibi of UJ as they ran head-to-head throughout the race.
Only at the 450-metre mark, Morepe showed his courage to lead the race and secure his gold medal in a time of 03:47:08.
Msibi settled for a silver medal clocking 03:53:90 while Jaden de Wet received a bronze medal.
The women’s U20 1 500m race was dominated by the CGA’s most promising female athlete of 2022, Naledi Makgatha, who claimed the gold medal in a time of 04:32:45. Faith Mabhena of UJ received a silver medal by clocking 04:52:29. The third place went to Ubuhle’s Mahlatsi Ngwenya in a time of 04:53.48.
The senior men’s 400m hurdles saw Sabelo Dlamini dominating and securing a gold medal by crossing the finish line in a time of 0:52:23.
Zonica Lindeque took gold in the women’s U20 shotput event throwing a distance of 15.53m.
Appearing on the podium with a silver medal was Amari Van Niekerk after she secured a distance of 12.87m and taking home a bronze medal with a distance of 11.62m was Clarrissa le Roux.
In the men’s U20 shotput event, JL Van Rensburg took the top spot with a throw of 18.30m. Cian de Villiers and Morne Venter settled for a silver and bronze medal respectively.
The U16, U18 and U20 national championships are scheduled from March 23 to 25 in Pietermaritzburg and the senior nationals from March 30 to April 1 in Potchefstroom.
