LUVO AND GERT LOOK TO LEAD THE TEAM SA CHALLENGE FOR SUCCESS
Johannesburg, Monday, 18 July 2010 – African junior long jump record-holder Luvo Manyonga and decathlon specialist Gert Swanepoel will be among the nine Team SA athletes who will be in action on the national team’s first day of competition at the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada today.
Manyonga, who set an African junior best of 8.19 metres in Germany 9 days ago, will be joined by Stefan Brits from Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, who posted a qualifying performance of 7.66 metres in a track and field meeting in Italy 12 days ago.
Free State-based Swanepoel will compete in the 100 metres (career best time of 10.96 secs), long jump (career best distance of 7.04 metres), shot put (carer best of 12.91 metres), high jump (career best of 2.02 metres) and 400 metres (career best of 48.58).
University of the Free State’s Ratlale Mokone will be a part of the 1500 metres heats, starting with a lifetime best of 3 min 43.52 secs.
Free State speedster Gideon Trotter and Johannesburg-based Waide Jooste will come under starter’s orders in the 100 metres with season best times of 10.41 and 10,43, while Jacques de Swardt (season best of 46.08) of Afrikaans Seuns Hoerskool in Tshwane and Boland’s Shaun de Jager (season best of 46.82) will carry Team SA’s hopes in the 400 metres.
North West University’s Tazmin Brits, with a qualifying best of 56.18 metres in the javelin, will be the first of Team SA’s female competitors to take part in Moncton.
Athletics enthusiasts can send their support to the SA team on Facebook page ‘SA Athletics – World Junior Championships 2010”.
For further information, please contact:
Richard Stander
ASA Assistant Administrator: Athletes Affairs
Cellular: 072 347 8964
Paul Martin (in Canada with Team SA)
ASA Assistant Administrator: Communications
Cellular: 082 780 1744
ENDS
