Home Sport Athletics Griqualand West off the mark in impressive fashion

Athletics Griqualand West off the mark in impressive fashion

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The inter-provincial meeting held in Potchefstroom signalled the association’s emergence from the Covid-19 imposed restrictions.

AGW president Theo Senekal Snr. File Picture: Neville Motlhabakwe

ATHLETICS Griqualand West (AGW) is cock-a-hoop over the clutch of positive results Northern Cape athletes collected at the inaugural inter-provincial track and field championship held in Potchefstroom last weekend.

Theo Senekal Snr, Athletics Griqualand West president, said the inter-provincial meeting held at the PUK McArthur Stadium signalled the association’s emergence from the Covid-19 imposed restrictions.

“The Covid-19 delay to the start of the season offered an opportunity to do things differently. It taught us to shift the needle from frantic to calm now that we have a chance to breathe fresh air into our sport,” he said.

The inaugural leg of the inter-provincial track and field championship featured athletes from AGW, Athletics Free State and Athletics North West.

Senekal listed some of the highlights of the championship for the province which include solid performances by junior and senior athletes as well as from some who were still at nursery stages of an athletics career.

“We are extremely proud of their individual achievements. There is still hard work that needs to be done before the Free State track and field championships which are due to be hosted by the Free State association at the Mangaung Athletics Stadium on Saturday March 13 for the Under-16 and Under-18 age groups.

“The next (athletics) meeting will be held on March 27 for the Under-20 and seniors categories.”

Senekal mentioned that another vexing issue for them for the season ahead was the struggle to get the Sol Plaatje Municipality to assist the association to co-manage the province’s only synthetic track and field facility in the province at the De Beers Stadium.

“Our athletes struggle without proper equipment and to prepare and compete in a safe, risk-free environment in their quest to compete at national level. With that in mind, we strongly believe it is now time for all stakeholders to be part of the solution to make a positive contribution to assist our athletes in this province to once again fly the flag high with their accomplishments,” Senekal told the DFA.

This is how AGW athletes fared in Potchefstroom:

Seasoned youth, junior and senior section:

1st place women U20 – 100m – Jinesse Fouche: time 12.52s.

2nd place women U20 – 200m – Jinesse Fouche: time 26.06s.

1st place boys U18 – 100m – TJ van der Walt: time 10.79s.

1st place boys U18 – 400m – TJ van der Walt: time 49.59s.

2nd place boys U20 – 100m – Gerrie Pretorius: time 11.19s.

3rd place men U25 – 400m – Devan Bennet: time 50.47s.

Nursery athletes

1st place boys U14 long jump – Divan Grobbelaar: distance 4.39m.

3rd place U14 100m – Divan Grobbelaar: time 13.97s.

4th place girls U16 – 400m – Carmen Louw: time 62.90s.

4th place girls U16 – 200m – Runicha Pieters: time 29.85s.

3rd place boys U16 – 100m – Jeraldo Scott: 12.18s.

3rd place U16 – 200m – Jeraldo Scott:24.71s.

6th place boys U16 – Javelin – Harry I’óns – distance 42.33m.

4th place boys U18 – 200m – Hannes Burger: 23.11s.

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