Manyonga’s Potch gold strike
STAR BREAKS AFRICAN MARK It’s Caster at the double in 400m and 800m events.
Long jump sensation Luvo Manyonga insists he is only just getting started, after producing another superb leap at the SA Senior Championships on Saturday.
Manyonga launched a massive 8.65m jump with his first attempt, adding 3cm to his own African record set in Pretoria last month, as he climbed to 11th place in the alltime world rankings.
Though he withdrew from the rest of the competition with a groin injury, he won comfortably, despite Ruswahl Samaai producing a world-class effort of 8.49m to earn the silver medal.
“Finally I got the gold medal, but there’s still more to come,” said Manyonga, who bagged his fi rst national senior title.
“The focus isn’t really on the SA Championships but on the World Championships (in London in August).”
Meanwhile, versatile middlespecialist Caster Semenya retained her national titles in the 400m and 800m events on Saturday’s second and final day of competition at Puk McArthur Stadium, winning the one-lap race in 51.60 and taking the two-lap fi nal in 2:01.03.
Semenya, who confirmed she would run the 400m, 800m and 1 500m events at the SA Student Championships in Cape Town this weekend, was pleased to produce two fine performances.
“It’s always great to entertain the people,” she said.
“To give back to them it’s all about medals, so I’m quite happy and I’ve been overwhelmed by the crowd. It’s been fantastic.”
Sprinter Alyssa Conley also defended two titles, winning the 200m final in 22.94 to add to the 100m crown she had lifted on Friday (11.41) after pre-race favourite Carina Horn withdrew due to illness.
Back on the infield, Pretoria giant Orazio Cremona won the men’s shot put with an impressive 21.12m heave, with Jaco Engelbrecht delivering a personal best of 20.63 to grab second spot.
Cremona became the second South African athlete, after national record holder Janus Robberts, to deliver the shot beyond 21 metres, booking his place in the SA team for the global championships. In the last event of the annual championships, veteran hammer thrower Chris Harmse earned his 22nd consecutive national title with a best effort of 70.53m.