Athletics South Africa have named a 56-member preparation squad for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, boasting Olympic gold medallist, Caster Semenya and Comrades Marathon winner, Gerda Steyn.
On Monday, 4 November, ASA released the provisional squad based on the performances of the athletes during 2019 and will be monitored by the ASA high performance department as the team build’s up to the prestigious event next year where the track and field competition is set to take place from the 31st of July to the 9th of August.
The inclusion of Steyn has come after the athlete completed the New York Marathon on Sunday, 3 November, coming in 11th place overall and in a time of 2:27:48, within the allocated 2:29:30 qualifying time that was set by ASA for the Olympics.
Another notable inclusion is 2016 Rio Games 800m title winner, Semenya, who has been named, although her final place in the team will depend on the outcome of an appeal lodged at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland regarding international gender rules on women.
The final team will be announced by SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee next year.
Full ASA Preparation Squad for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games:
Tebogo Mamathu
Zeney van der Walt
*Caster Semenya
Dominique Scott-Efurd
Rikenette Steenkamp
Wenda Nel
Rogail Joseph
Lynique Beneke
Sunette Viljoen
Gerda Steyn
**Noelene Conrad
* Pending the IAAF case / ** Injured Athletes 2019 season
4x100m:
Tamzin Thomas
Taylon Bieldt
Rikenette Steenkamp
Tebogo Mamathu
Rose Xeyi
Antionette van der Merwe
Rea Moloi
Petunia Obisi
4x400m
Mixed gender:
Zeney van der Walt
Wenda Nel
Danel Holton
Taylon Bieldt
Ranti Dikgale
Jon Seeliger
Lythe Pillay
Pieter Conradie
Photo 1 Caption: Double Olympic gold medallist, Caster Semenya, has been included in the Athletics South Africa preparation squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and will be eager to make the final squad that will jet off to the prestigious event next year. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
(0 rating, 0 votes, rated)
Loading...
