Johannesburg, Thursday,1 July 2010 – Pole vault sensation Cheyne Rahme and long jump talent Luvo Manyonga are among a 23-strong national junior team that will be in the hunt for medals at the 13th IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships in Moncton, Canada from July 20-25.

Of the athletes announced, Rahme, Manyionga and Tazmin Britz (javelin) occupy top spot on the world junior rankings, while Waide Jooste (100 metres), Gideon Trotter (100 metres), Shaun de Jager (400 metres), Ratlale Mokone (800 metres), Rocco van Rooyen (javelin), Dan Goosen (javelin) and Gert Swanepoel (decathlon), rank among the top 10 in their respective disciplines.

From the 29- member national squad announced in April, only 20 athletes made it on to the final team, following assessment of qualifying performances posted during the track and field meetings held during the ‘window period’ in June.

World 800 metres senior champion Caster Semenya, who is waiting for the outcome of the much-publicised gender medical process conducted under the auspices of the IAAF, could not be considered for selection.
 
The ASA interim body running the sport under the auspices of SASCOC since November last year, have noted with concern regarding the shortage of black athletes and indeed female athletes who have qualified for the world junior showpiece. The once world-acclaimed ASA development programme which produced top talent from previously disadvantage sectors back in the 1990s and early part of the new century, has battled to keep up the pace in recent times and is in need of attention. Plans are being developed to put SA junior athletics back in its rightful position as a leader on the world front.
 
“SA is a sports-crazy nation that prides itself on achieving success and I wish the SA junior class of 2010 the best of luck when they take on top junior talent from all corners of the globe, at the World Junior Championships in Canada in July,” said ASA Administrator Ray Mali. “This campaign is the first step towards preparing athletes to keep our country’s flag flying high at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.”
 
SA Junior Track and Field Team:
 
Men:
Waide Jooste                                      (CGA) 100m
Gideon Trotter                                     (AFS)  100m
Wade van Niekerk                               (AFS)  200m
Sean de Klerk                                      (AFS) 200m
Shaun de Jager                                   (Bol)    400m
Jacques de Swardt                             (AGN) 400m
Ratlale Mokone                                    (AFS) 1500m
Kobus Moolman                                   (AGN) 110m hurdles
Werner Pretorius                                 (AGN) 110m hurdles
Le Roux Hamman                                 (ANWN) 400m hurdles
Pieter Marx                                           (AFS)  400m hurdles
Cheyne Rahme                                     (CGA) pole vault
Luvo Manyonga                                   (Bol)    long jump
Stefan Brits                                          (Bol)    long jump
Dewald van Heerden                           (CGA) discus
Rocco van Rooyen                               (WP)    javelin
Dean Goosen                                       (VT)     javelin
Gert Swanepoel                                   (CNW) decathlon
 
4 x 100 metres relay squad: Gideon Trotter, Waide Jooste, Wade van Niekerk, Sean de Klerk, Kobus Moolman, Werner Pretorius
 
Women:
 
Justine Palframan                 (KZN)  200m
Anuschka Nice                     (AGN) 800m
Jean-Marie Senekal              (Bol)    400m hurdles
Annemie Smith                      SWDA) hammer throw
Tazmin Britz                          (ACNW) javelin
 
 
For further information, please contact:
 
Richard Stander (ASA: Assistant to the Administrator: Athletes Affairs)                                           
Cellular: 072 347 8964
 
Paul Martin (ASA: Assistant the Administrator: Communications)
Cellular: 082 780 1744
 
ENDS