Sunette Viljoen
Monday, 11 June 2012 – Sunette Viljoen proved that she is coming into form at the right time of the season as she won the women’s javelin competition at the 6th IAAF Samsung Diamond League in New York on Saturday 9 June. Viljoen’s 5th round throw of 69.35m broke her own SA, Africa and Commonwealth Record and was a Meet Record on top of that. In the process she grabbed a huge scalp in world javelin throwing by defeating Olympic Champion and World Championships Silver Medalist, Barbora Spotakova.
In one of her most consistent series, Viljoen opened with 60.48m before hitting 64.51m, 65.34m and 66.60m. It was the World Championships bronze medallist’s fifth round attempt of 69.35m that nobody in the field had an answer to. With this she improved her SA and Africa record of 68.38m set up at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea last year.
Spotakova opened the competition with 68.72 and was leading until Viljoen’s 5th round effort. The Olympic Champion improved on her first round effort by 1cm and had to concede defeat to Viljoen. Despite the obvious joy of the win and the record, Viljoen has her sights firmly set on London. “It is an amazing feeling. Wow, world number one with a new SA, Africa and Commonwealth record,” said Viljoen from New York. “It is still early in the season, so I will work harder. Lot still needs to happen. I will focus on my training and ensure my heart and head remain positive.”
Viljoen will now prepare for the Africa Championships in Benin (27 June – 1 July) where she will look to defend her title before moving onto the Olympic Games in London.
Peter van der Westhuizen finished ninth in the men’s 1500m, clocking 3:37.47. Bernard Lagat (USA) won the race in 3:34.63 with Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI) and David Torrence (USA) coming second and third in 3:34.73 and 3:35.48 respectively.
Oscar Pistorius struggled again in the men’s 400m, finishing seventh in 46.14sec. The first three positions went to Luguelin Santon (DOM), Olympic silver medallist Jeremy Wariner (USA) and Christopher Brown. Lungeulin won in 45.24sec with Wariner and Brown clocking 45.30sec and 45.35sec respectively.
Olivier edging closer to qualifying mark
Andre Oliver is still on track to qualify for the Olympic Games after he came very close to the 1:45.60 required to qualify. Olivier narrowly missed the mark after crossing the finish line in 1:45.75 at the Meeting Lille Metropole in France on Saturday, 9 June.
The 800m Ethiopia World Indoor Champion, Mohamed Aman, won the race in 1:44.32 with Pierre Ambroise Bosse (FRA) second in 1:44.97. He finished just ahead of Nicholas Kipkoech from Kenya who crossed the line in 1:45.01. Bosse and Kipkeoch both clocked personal bests.
Anaso Jobodwana came third in the men’s 200m race just behind Kevin Borlee from Belgium. Jobodwana crossed the line in 20.84sec with Borlee in 20.82sec. The former 200 m World Indoor silver medallists and European Indoor Champion Christian Malcolm (GBR) won the race in 20.70sec.
Tampereen Eliittikisat: Potgieter jumps personal best in Finland
Charlene Potgieter delivered a lifetime best performance in the women’s triple jump in Tampere, Finland on Sunday 10 June when she won with 13.80m.
“I am over the moon with my performance! I was a bit tired after the long flight, but the conditions were perfect. It is not always easy to compete in Europe, so it is great to be able to get a personal best,” said Potgieter after the meeting.
Potgieter has a solid local season behind her starting with 13.61m at the first Yellow Pages Interprovincial meeting on 25 February in Germiston. This was a new South African record until Patience Ntshingila answered with 13.89m at Yellow Pages II in Potchefstroom on 24 March. Potgieter also improved her distance to 13.70m at the same meeting.
Kristiina Makela from Finland came second with 13.52m, her best performance of the season while compatriot Essi Lindgren finished third with 13.21m. South Africa’s Matsi Kikotla’s 12.72m attempt was good enough for sixth place.
Khotso Mokoena won the men’s long jump ahead of Sweden’s Michel Tornéus. Both athletes jumped 8.07m with Roni Ollikained (FIN) third in 7.84m. Mokoena winning on count back. In the women’s long jump, Lynique Prinsloo again achieved a lifetime best jump with her 6.38m while Carla Marais came second with 6.16m. Finland’s Jaana Sievilainen jumped 6.16m for a third place finish.
Results from the 13th Memorial Primo Nebiolo, Italy – 8 June 2012
Rynhardt van Rensburg competed in the men’s 800m and finished sixth in 1:48.28 behind Hilary Tuwei from Kenya (1:47.86). Mohamed Ahmed Hamada (EGY) won the race in 1:44.98 with Abdulrahman Musaeb Bala (QAT) second in 1:46.12. Senegal’s Mor Seck finished third with a 1:47.13 clocking.
South Africa’s Gladwin Mzazi ran in the men’s 5000m but clocked 13:54.96 in tenth place with two of the three top athletes clocking lifetime best times. Ezekiel Meli (KEN), Thomas Ayeko (UGA) and Tonny Wamulwa (ZAM) took the first three positions, crossing the line in 13:22.90, 13:23.25 and 12:26.09 respectively.
Claudia Viljoen was up against Olympic finalist Lolo Jones (USA) in the women’s 100m hurdles with Jones winning the race in 12.97sec. Yuliya Kondakova (RUS) clocked the same time for second place with Micol Cattaneo (ITA) third, crossing the line in 13.13sec. Viljoen finished seventh in 13.85sec. Patience Ntshingila came sixth in the women’s triple jump with 13.03m.
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