Germiston Callies athlete snatches silver medal at nationals

Kgoputso Manaleng of Germiston Callies continued his dominance at the boy’s U16 100m hurdles at the ASA juniors.

The Jeppe Boys athlete officially entered his name into the history books at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) provincial track and field championships at Germiston Stadium on March 10 last year when he set a new record in the U16 100m hurdles for boys with a time of 13:58.

At the time he dedicated his win to his brother in Cape Town.

The ASA junior championships opening did not disappoint as multiple national bests were shattered in the U16 age group, as the ASA U16, U18, U20 and U23 Championships kickstarted at the Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria.

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The championships witnessed Neo Modibe grab a silver medal for Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) in 10.20 in the U20 men’s 100m final.

Junior sprinters flaunted their form and Micah Africa was phenomenal in the U16 boys’ 100m event, setting a new SA best of 10.83 in the semi-finals and going on to win gold in the final in 10.73, improving his new mark.

In the girls’ U16 100m hurdles, Megan Nieman stunned her opponents by setting a national best in the first-round heats, dipping on the line in 12.44.

Zaun Marthinus (BOLA) also set a South African U16 best in the boys’ discus throw final, with a 64.80m effort.
Kaili Botje won a silver medal after clocking 11.66 and Charne Wansbury who earned bronze in 11.71, also achieved the qualifying standard for the World U20 Championships.

Displaying incredible depth in their events, six athletes in the U20 women’s 100m hurdles and five athletes in the U20 men’s 110m hurdles qualified for the global junior championships later this year.

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Temoso Masikane also hit the qualifying mark in the U20 men’s long jump final, winning gold with a leap of 7.71m, as did Dwight McCloen (who landed at 7.58m to secure second position.

Other athletes who achieved qualifying standards for the World U20 Championships included U20 women’s shot put gold medallist Alicia Khunou who produced a 15.11m heave, as well as discus throwers Johannes Marais who won gold with a best attempt of 62.01m, and Wesley Badenhorst who bagged silver with a 58.33m effort.