There has been a huge resurgence in South African sprinting in the last few years with the likes of Wayde van Niekerk becoming a superstar of global sprinting, Akani AK Simbine becoming the first South African sprinter to make an Olympic 100m final since readmission and becoming the only multiple sub 10sec 100m exponent in the country. Add to that the likes of Henricho Bruintjies, also a sub 10sec 100m sprinter and Anaso Jobodwana who holds the 200m SA Record of 19.87sec and it is clear that sprinting is alive and well in South Africa. Van Niekerk and Simbine made full use of the Varsity Athletics series to get to where they are now.
The next generation is just as exciting and they will be on show on Friday March 3 in Potchefstroom at the first of the 2017 Varsity Athletics meetings. The men’s 200m is the who’s who of the future of sprinting. Headlining the race is the men’s 100m SA Junior Champion. Tlotliso Gift Leotlela, the 18-year-old first-year Sport Science student from Tuks is the ‘star’ in the men’s 200m, but as he says, this will be a hard race.
“It is my first race of the season, and although training has been going really well, I just hope I can put it all together on race day.”
Leotlela also knows that there are some hungry athletes out there who will not make it easy for him.
“Hendrik Maartens is one to look for, Cheswill Johnson has shown he is also in good shape, Wally (Ungerer) and my training partner (Senona) Malesela are also looking to be in good form. I don’t really know where Gideon (Trotter) is at the moment, but he has been around for a while and has lots of experience. If the conditions are good, it’s going to be a quick winning time I believe.”
Leotlela, on paper, is the man to beat with PB’s of 10.20sec (100m) and 20.47 (200m) behind his name, as well as representing South Africa internationally. He has all the credentials to earn maximum points for Tukkies.
Maartens is no slouch either, with a 10.48sec 100m and 20.51sec 200m.
Middle distance exponents will be licking their lips for the men’s 800m. The ‘veteran’ Rynhardt van Rensburg who represented South Africa at the Rio Olympics faces off against the young pretender, George Kusche. Van Rensburg ran his Personal Best of 1:45.33 at the Rio Olympics, but will not be in that kind of shape, as the Communications Science Student from Kovsies has just come off a big brick of training at the Lesotho high altitude Holiday Resort, AfriSki.
Kusche on the other hand is on cloud nine and brimming with confidence. The Tuks athlete is coached by former World Indoor 800m Champion, Johan Botha and is in impressive form. He improved his PB by a massive 12 seconds in the 1500m (3:41.18) at the first ASA Speed Series meeting in Durban on Tuesday 28 February.
“I was very happy with that race. Finishing fourth in very windy conditions, in a field including the best 1500m runners in the country? Yes, I’m very happy with that.”
Kusche sprained his ankle in the pushing and shoving that went on in the three and three-quarter lap race, as a massive field of 14 athletes had been assembled.
“My ankle is fine again though and I’m looking forward to the race. I’m looking to beat my PB (1:47.45) and win the race.” Both Van Rensburg and Kusche are not shy to make the pace hot, so expect fireworks on Friday.
Making a guest appearance is SA 5000m Record Holder, Elroy Gelant. “I’ll be pacing the 1500m. Probably up to 1200m, but no pensioners are allowed to the finish the whole race,” the Olympian told us with a chuckle.
It is clear that the host University, Potchefstroom (Pukke) are expecting a clean sweep in the men’s javelin competition. Johan Grobler is odds-on favourite to win the competition with his PB of 80.59m. Erich Wiese has gone 72.90m and Leon Laubscher 71.50m.
By Manfred Seidler
