Cape Town – Saturday’s League Meeting surely belonged to young Kayla Smit of Bellville Athletics club when she improved Elmarie Knoetzen’s 22 year old WPA Hammer Throw Record from 48.08 to a mighty 48.60. Kayla has, however, been making quite a habit of improving records that one has to 1st see if it is not just a mere PB for her, that just happens to be a new record.

Kayla Smit improves WPA Hammer Throw Record

The shy girl deserves respect though, overcoming very trying conditions during training with her throws constantly being interrupted by ignorant individuals crossing the field as she is about to launch her hammer.

It was another windy and hot day at Parow Track and the sprinters gave their usual performances. Shannon Arendse clocked a double in the Women’s 100m and 200m, setting times of 12.34 and 24.95, Nabeelah Parker pushing her all the way in the latter. The evergreen Jonathan Dreyer clocked the fastest time for the men, 11.11 being his winning time. Jodee Rose stopped the clock at 11.33 in the boys 18 dash. Young Monja Theart ran away from the field in the girls 18 race, finishing in 12.79, with the 2nd runner trailing in 15.11. It was business as usual for Roscoe Engel, who clocked 20.92 in his 1st showing in the 200m for Men.

Keagan van der Merwe is making a habit of running 48s over the 400m, this time doing it in 48.76s despite the windy back straight. Maybe his relaxed demeanor helps him along. He sure is a character to watch at the start.

In the Women’s 800m Thineke Cloete was unstoppable, running the 2 lapper in 2:11.76. Kobie Griffiths came home 2nd in a massive PB of 2:13.92.

The distance runners had their work cut out as they had to contend with the wind and the heat. Young Edward Jack won the 3000m in a season’s best of 8:58.00, while Andre Afrika overcame a sweltering 31 degrees to win the 5000m in 14:56.91. This 5000m was run at midday! Nolubabalo Dyonase eeked out a win in the Women’s race in 19:05.22.

Sunel Jacobs ran a respectable 4:42.56 in the Women’s 1500m, which brings us to my race of the day, the Boys20 and Men’s combined 1500m. Lukhanyo Lucs Nobakada looked intent of taking out the pace in the early stages, which had the leading pack running almost single file over the 1st lap, with Oliver Stewart hanging on to the rear. As the pace settled, Oliver started picking off the others and by the bell he was laying 4th, with it being anybody’s race over the final lap. Oliver moved to the front in the back straight, but with everyone still there it was going to be a battle to still get a win. He found another gear in the home straight though and powered into the lead yet again. The clock was stopped at 4:03.46, a massive 5s improvement on his previous best over the metric mile.

The League had a sprinkling of good performances and it will only get better as we approach the sharp end of the season. Track and Field is alive and kicking and the nice addition of some music will just add to the atmosphere.

Thanks to Sir Roger Sedres for the astounding pic!

report by Brian Records