Five members of the Maties Athletics Club were crowned national champions in their respective disciplines at the SA Senior Track and Field Athletic Championships held at Coetzenburg this past weekend.
Discus thrower Victor Hogan not only defended his national title successfully but also qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio with his winning distance of 67.62m on Friday, the first day of the event. On Saturday high jumper Keagan Fourie won his first senior national title when he won the high jump with a height of 2.15m.
"It is great to win this event, but I also really wanted a better height, to be honest," Fourie said moments after he was crowned champion. He has also won titles at high school and national junior level.
"It was always the goal to win the title today, but you just never know so it wasn't easy at all. I also wanted to jump at least 2.20m, but on the day it just did not happen."
Shaun de Jager won the silver medal in the 400m with a season's best time of 45,90 seconds. Only world champion Wayde van Niekerk beat him. It was a great race and De Jager just missed out on his personal best time. He is also still looking for a qualifying time for Rio.
Jodie Sedras won her first senior national medal in the polevault for senior women when she cleared 3.50m to claim silver, while Johan Kruger took bronze in the hammer throw for senior men.
In the multi-disciplined events Maties Athletics won three gold medals. Wynand du Toit is the new junior decathlon champion. Nienka du Toit won the heptathlon for junior women, while youngster Leandre Ketch won gold in the pentathlon for girls u.16.
Photos:
Victor Hogan. Photo credit: Thys Lombard
Keagan Fourie. Photo credit: Outsider Communications
