Hlengiwe leads Toti juniors to major role in eThekwini SALGA victory
In total, Toti juniors won nine gold, four silver and three bronze medals at the 2015 SALGA Games.
THE nine junior athletes from Amanzimtoti Athletics Club who were selected to compete for the eThekwini Metro team in the inter-district SALGA Games this weekend contributed significantly to the winning athletics performance by the eThekwini athletics team.
The Toti athletes made up about one eighth of the team but contributed over a quarter or 113 out of the 407 points achieved by the eThekwini team. Hlengiwe Zuma helped to contribute a total of 25 points, competing in four events, and in the process also bagged the girls 19 800m title and a bronze medal in the G19 1500m. Sesi Mbatha and Lee-anne Blake were the next highest contributors to the team, when they each won two titles. Sesi won the G17 200m and 400m gold medals, while Lee-anne won the G17 1500m and 800m gold medals.
It should be mentioned that both these athletes are actually still in the G14 age category, yet snatched these titles in the G17 age group, the youngest age grouping at SALGA Games. Sesi has made tremendous progress in only a few months. Despite the extremely hot, humid and windy conditions, as well as a very poor track underfoot, their times were also outstanding in each of their winning performances – faster than the winning times in these events in the G19 age group as well. Sesi, Lee-anne and Anele Blake were also instrumental in the eThekwini Metro G17 team easily winning the medley relay. Lisha Van Onselen showed tremendous mental tenacity and also surprised when she secured a silver medal for second in the G19 1500m, having just returned to training with full weight-bearing in the last two weeks after a long injury lay-off.
The boys were not to be outdone. Roald Bothma won the title in the B17 high jump, while Dwayne Trollip assisted to heap up 20 points for the eThekwini team when he achieved silver medals (second) in both the B17 200m and 400m. In addition to having to run heats, he ran a storming relay leg in the B17 medley relay to take the team from third to first position after his leg. The team eventually finished third. Despite still competing in the U15 age group, Rishen Archary justified being selected for the team in the boys 17 400m and showed maturity beyond his years when he ran a storming 400m B17 final and finished in fourth position in an extremely competitive field. In the process, he ran the best 400m race of his year-long running career so far. He certainly is a prospect to watch closely.
In total, Toti juniors won nine gold, four silver and three bronze medals at the 2015 SALGA Games, by far their best showing at this annual provincial event.
