Two national records fell on the third and final day of the ASA Age Group Championships, with Megan Nieman and Ansume de Beer delivering outstanding performances at Germiston Athletics Stadium, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 28 March, 2026.
Winning a tightly contested battle, Megan Nieman bounced back to secure gold in the U18 girls 400m hurdles final. Nieman, who had been disqualified for a false start in the 100m hurdles heats earlier in the week, stormed to an impressive victory in the one-lap final over the barriers.
She stopped the clock at 56.54, slicing 0.13 off her own SA mark of 56.67 which she set in Tshwane last month. Behind her, national youth 400m record holder Christi Loggenberg finished second in 57.11 and SA U18 100m hurdles record holder Janelle Kirkpatrick was third in 58.21, with the top five athletes (all representing AGN) dipping under 60 seconds.
“It was a hard but good race and I’m proud of my performance,” Nieman said. “It was fun running with Christi (Loggenberg). She’s a very good athlete and I think we’re going to have a lot of good races in future.”
In the U20 women’s pole vault final, Ansume de Beer (Boland Athletics) became the only field events athlete at the three-day championships to break a national record. De Beer cleared 4.18m to add two centimetres to her own African mark (4.16m) which she achieved in Stellenbosch last year, earning a convincing win to clinch the national title.
“This is my first time jumping since I recovered from an injury, so it’s a big relief that I could jump here and had so much fun,” said De Beer, who won the African junior pole vault title last season.
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“I was in the right mindset, which I think is the most important thing. I was extremely focused and dedicated today, and I think that helped. I’m so glad and thankful because I’ve been aiming to break the record, and I’m very proud of myself.”
The AGN team finished top of the overall standings with a total of 153 medals (54 gold, 54 silver and 45 bronze). Host province, Central Gauteng Athletics, took second place with 83 medals (26 gold, 34 silver and 23 bronze) and Boland ended third with 69 medals (24 gold, 21 silver and 24 bronze).
Original Copy: Athletics SA, with editing by gsportse
Main Photo Caption: Megan Nieman of Athletics Gauteng North broke her own South African record in the U18 girls 400m hurdles, clocking 56.64 to claim gold on the closing day of the ASA Age Group Championships at Germiston Athletics Stadium, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 28 March, 2026. All Photos: Cecilia van Bers / Athletics South Africa
Photo 2 Caption: Ansume de Beer of Boland Athletics cleared 4.18m to break her own African record and claim the U20 women’s pole vault national title on the closing day.
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