Promising junior women’s athletics was one of the outcomes when the SA Sub-youth, Youth, Junior and Under 23 Championships concluded at the Pilditch stadium in Tshwane on Sunday, with the best South African athletes having battled it out for the ultimate title of South African Champion from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 April, 2013.
Some of the highlights on the opening day on Friday included Katelyn Rothballe from Central Gauteng Athletics winning the sub-youth girls high jump with 1.77m. The South African top ranked sub-youth athlete improved on her best performance of 1.74m achieved in East London on 21 March. Mieke Pretorius (AGN) won the silver medal with 1.65m while Marne Kriedman (CGA) came third with the same height.
The Labushagne triplets competed for Gauteng North in the junior women’s 3000m steeplechase, but they could not beat teammate Thandeka Manzana to the title, when she crossed the line in 11:12.20 while Olivia and Alicia Labushagne had to be satisfied with silver and bronze, their times 11:21.83 and 11:41.36 respectively. Sindy Labushagne finished outside medal territory.
Day two highlights included North Western Cape athlete Phillipa van der Merwe, who won the SA title in the junior women’s 100m race, crossing the line in 11.89sec. The battle between the silver and bronze position was between Liezl Hechter (AGN) and Stacey Welsch (WPA), but it was Hechter that came second. She crossed the line in 11.95sec followed by Welsch in 22.97sec.
Final day three arrived with the prospects of the 200m and 400m springs, and Justine Palframan beat Alyssa Conley from Central Gauteng in the first event in a time of 23.46sec. Conley crossed the line in 23.67sec followed by Sonja van der Merwe (WPA) in 23.78sec.
However, there was more excitement in the 400m as Justine Palframan and Sonja van der Merwe (WPA) battled it out to the finish line. A photo finish was needed to determine the winner. In the end, it was Van der Merwe that won the race in 53.32sec. The Western Province athlete only started training in August again after a four month period recovering from an injury. Anuscha Nice (AGN) finished third, her time 55.77sec.
Phillipa van der Merwe could not add the junior women’s 200m title to her gold in the 100m for junior women as she finished behind Stacey Welsch (WPA) in 24.59sec. Welsch clocked 24.41sec with Shanice Marnice third in 24.64sec.
SPAR was the proud sponsor of all food and beverages (for officials, volunteers and hospitality) at the SA Sub-youth, youth, Junior and under 23 Championships.
For the full results please visit www.athletics.org.za.
(With editing by gsport)
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