Mark Ouma for IAAF
22 February, 1999. South Africa’s World Half Marathon silver medallist Hendrik Ramaala set a new SA record in the men’s 10,000m at the fifth ABSA track and field series meeting in Port Elizabeth last night (Monday 22 February).
Never before have so many South Africans broken the 28 minute barrier in the 10,000m in the same race. Cheered on by a partisan crowd, Ramaala turned on the heat to cover the last lap in 59 seconds and cross the finishing line in 27.29.94. He improved on the previous record of 27.30.53 which he set on July 11 in the French city of Villeneuve d’Ascq.
Enoch Skosana (27.57.47), Shadrack Hoff (27.57.94), Motsehi Moeketsana (27.58.82), and Stephen Phofi (27.58.99) followed in that order. In the process they are all safely inside the stringent qualifying time of 28 minutes set by Athletics South Africa for the World Championships that will be held in Seville, Spain from August 20-29.
With the addition of Shosana, Moeketsana, and Phofi, South Africa can now boast of having ten runners on their all time list who have run below the magical 28 minutes in the 10,000m. Besides Ramaala, Hoff (27.43.89) in 1996, the others are
"It is a long time since l ever competed in this event with better pace setters. We owe our fast times to the sacrifice made by pace setter Richard Mavuso and Tsunaki Kalamori. We all came here to try and qualify for the world championships.
"Coming into the last lap, l felt that we should give the crowd a present for giving us so much support to the race. I am also glad that my colleagues also qualified and that there is now a chance that we can enter a full contingent of three runners in the event at the world championships," said Ramaala.
The women’s 1500m provided the most dramatic finish with the top five finishers separated by a mere 0.66 seconds. Zimbabwe’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Julia Sakara relied on her powerful finishing kick to overtake her opponents in the last 20 meters of the race to win in 4.14.31.
In her maiden attempt at the 1500m, Mari-Louise Henning emerged as runner up in the sprint for the finishing line in 4.14.73, She was followed by Carlien Cornelissen (4.14.85), Rene Kalmer (4.14.94) and Truzanne Swanepoel (4.14.97).
A contingent of Hungarians continued their domination of the hammer throw. Adrian Annus won the men’s event with a throw of 77.06. Zsolt Nemeth (75.24) and Tibor Gecsek (74.42) took the minor positions ahead of Britain’s Michael Jones (71.49) and South Africa’s Chris Harmse (68.18) and the 66.59 effort of William Beauchamp (Britain).
Olympic 800m silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng and World javelin champion Marius Corbett opened their campaigns this season in winning form. Fresh from a training stint in Eldoret, the home of Kenya’s top middle and long distance runners, Sepeng won the 1500m in 3.40.47. The vastly improved Esau Faro was second in 3.40.94. A resurgent Aaron Gabonewe, the 5000m bronze medallist at the 1996 Sydney World Junior Championships came in third in 3.44.51.
Corbett got the better of Norwegian Pal Arne Fagerne in their first head to head duel in the javelin. Corbett won with a throw of 80.38 to Fagernes’ 75.74. Johan Vosloo was third with a throw of 71.23.
The sixth and final ABSA series meeting will be held in Bellville near Cape Town on Friday (February 27).
Leading Results
Note:
All athletes are South Africans unless where stated. Where performances were outstanding more than the first three positions are given.
Men
100m:1.Bradley Agnew 10.47, 2. Lee-Roy Newton 10.52, 3. Morne Nagel 10.53, 4. Jean Francios Ngapout (Cameroon) 10.67, 200m:1. Lee-Roy Newton 21.01, 2. Paul Gorries 21.03, 3. Bradley Agnew 21.03, 400m:1. Arnaud Malherbe 46.4, 2. Adriaan Botha 46.6, 3. Chris Jacobs 48.2, 800m:1. Jurgens Kotze 1.47.00, 2. Hendrik Mokganyetsi 1.47.29, 3. Shaun Abrahams 1.47.34, 1500m: 1. Hezekiel Sepeng 3.40.47, 2. Easu Faro 3.40.94, 3. Aaron Gabonewe 3.44.51, 10000m:1. Hendrik Ramaala 27.29.94 (New SA record), 2. Enoch Skosana 27.57.47, 3. Shadrack Hoff 27.57.76, 4. Motsehi Moeketsana 27.58,82, 5. Stephen Phofi 27.58.99, 6. Fackson Nkandu (Zambia) 28.26.17, 7. Laban Nkete 28.29.28, 8. Vincent Kutoane 28.40.01, 9. Eric Biyase 28.55.14, Long Jump:1. Marcus la Grange 7.61, 2. Victor Shabangu (Swaziland) 7.24, 3. Morne Boucher 7.15, Hammer Throw: 1. Adrian Annus (Hungary) 77.06, 2. Zsolt Nemeth (Hungary) 75.24. 3. Tibor Gecsek (Hungary) 74.42, 4. Michael Jones (Britain) 71.49, 5. Chris Harmse 68.18, 6. William Beauchamp (Britain) 66.59, Javelin: 1. Marius Corbett 80.38, 2. Pal Arne Fagernes (Norway) 75.74, 3. Johan Vosloo 71.23, Hardus Pienaar 70.42,
Women
100m: 1 Wendy Hartman 11.30, 2 , Heide Seyerling 11.40, 3. Esmarie le Roux 12.00, 200m: 1. Heide Seyerling 22.95, 2. Maralize Fouche 23.72, 3. Esmarie le Roux 24.12, 1500m:1. Julia Sakara (Zimbabwe) 4.14.31, 2. Marti-Louise Henning 4.14.73, Carlien Cornelissen 4.14.85, 4. Rene Kalmer 4.14.94, 5. Truzanne Swanepoel 4.14.97, High Jump:1.Hestrie Storbeck-Cloete 1.90, 2. Phillip Erasmus 1.80, 3. Paula Maree 1.80, Shot Put: 1. Maranelle du Toit 16.41, 2. Veronica Abrahamse 15.68, 3. Lezelle Jooste 14.48, Hammer Throw: 1. Katalin Dinvos (Hungary) 61.37, 2. Lorraine Shaw (Britain) 59.92, 3. Diane Holden (Britain) 54.05.
