LUVO PUTS IN A LATE LEAP TO BOOK PLACE IN FINAL
Johannesburg, Tuesday, 20 July 2010 – Luvo Manyonga made Team SA sweat before producing a third and final long jump effort of 7.76 metres to progress to Wednesday’s final, during an action-packed evening’s athletics at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada today.
Manyonga, who broke the African junior record 10 days ago with a leap of 8.19 metres, smiled broadly after passing the compulsory 7.70 metres qualifying mark – this after overstepping the plank for a no-jump first effort and a second jump of 6.28.
“I didn’t warm up properly for the competition, having gone straight to the warm up area after receiving physiotherapy on my left ankle,” said Manyonga, who hails from Mbokweni in the Western Cape.
“My left ankle twinge has meant that I have lost some speed on the run-in, but I will be ready for the final.”
Boland team-mate Stephen Brits recorded a best jump of 7.18 metres but was eliminated from the competition.
Besides Manyonga, another Boland athlete, Shaun de Jager, went to the 400 metres semi-finals the easy way in clocking 47.48 secs. Tshwane’s rising star, Jacques de Swardt, also made it to the semi-finals, as one of the fastest placed runners outside of the top three placings in the heats, coming home in 47.50.
Earlier Bloemfontein-based Louis Botha Technical High pupil Gideon Trotter (10.52) and University of Johannesburg student Waide Jooste (10.60) made it through to the next round of the 100 metres, while Potchefstroom-based Tazmin Brits (48.68m) advanced to the final of the javelin.
There was no luck out in the scorching morning heat for Ratlale Mokone (1500 metres) and Anuschka Nice (800 metres) who were eliminated from their competitions.
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
