High Hopes for Best Performances

High jumper Anika Smith will be among several leading athletes to make their first appearance, in the Yellow Pages Series III Meet at the Kings Park Stadium, in Durban on Friday.

Teboho Masehla and Nolene Conrad renew their perennial quest for supremacy in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Yellow Pages Series III Meet set for Kings Park Stadium in Durban on Friday.

They have taken turns in breaking the national record with Masehla being the only athlete to have broken the ten minute barrier when she covered the distance in 9 minutes 55.17 seconds (9:55.17) when the Yellow Pages Series was staged in Stellenbosch last year.

"The Beijing Olympic qualifier is 9:55. Therefore nothing short of a national record effort will get me closer to an Olympic qualifier. The challenge before is quite clear. Either we improve the national record or miss out on the Olympics," says Masehla.

"Perhaps the best aid we have had is the scientific evaluations during the ASA Training Camps at the (HPC). Although this will be a tough year, we are better prepared than ever before," says Nolene Conrad.

After setting a career best in the short 100m in Potchefstroom, Estie Wittstock competes in her first 400m of the year. Zambia’s Rachel Nachula and 400m hurdler Janet Wienand will be her main challenger.

"I have run the short 100 and 200m sprints in Secunda and Potchefstroom Yellow Pages Series to confirm my speed before I compete in my specialty event. My target is to run under 52 seconds," says Wittstock.   

High jumper Anika Smith will be among several leading athletes to make their first appearance in the Yellow Pages Series on Friday, where ASA will stage the Yellow Pages Durban Development Clinic from 2.30pm-4.00pm at the Kings Park Stadium prior to the eagerly anticipated meet.

Leading athletes who will on hand to share their knowledge and experience are twins Lebo Phalula and Lebogang Phalula, and Tebogo Masehla.

"It is a rare opportunity for school-going youths in the city to interact first hand with some of the country’s top athletes. Such face to face interaction with role models in the community has help young athletes solidify their commitment to the sports," says Phiwe, ASA Events, Marketing and Communications manager.