Javelin specialist Sunette Viljoen sparkled at the Yellow Pages Series Meeting in Potchefstroom on Friday night, in an event during which ghastly winds played havoc midway through the meet, leading to the cancellation of the women’s high jump and 100 hurdles events.
Any hopes of fast times in the 200m, 400m and hurdles were significantly dented, as athletes had to charge through a strong head wind on the home straight.
But the women’s javelin lived up to the crowd’s expectation of high quality performances, which saw Commonwealth Games champion Viljoen (58.51) carrying the day.
Her training partner and Africa Champion Justine Robbeson (57.81), Britain’s Goldie Sayers (56.69) and World Youth Champions Tazmin Brits (53.80) followed in that order.
"If it was not for the wind at least three of us would have surpass the 60m mark," said Viljoen. "This is my best performance in nearly two years. I am glad to have gotten over the injuries that kept me from realising my full potential last year".
There were other notable performances on the in-field, where 16-year old Marizette Badenhorst (50.30) claimed victory in the women’s hammer throw, while the vastly improved Isabella le Roux blew away the field to win the women’s 200m in a career best of 23.32 seconds on the track.
"It is a pleasantly surprised to run so fast at such an early stage in the season," said Le Roux "Training under a new coach is paying off as my previous best in 200m was 23.94."
Earlier on she clocked 11.73 a mere six hundredth off her 100m career best. Estie Witstock (11.55) and Tsholofelo Thipe (11.55) clocked identical personal bests to finish ahead of All Africa Games silver medallists Nombulelo Mkenku (11.67).
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