Johan Cronjé has continued the fine South African tradition of top-class 1 500m runners over the last decade and more, having won a bronze medal at the 2013 world championships in Moscow.
Having turned 34 last week, it seems as if age is not slowing him down as he posted a solid 3:38.45 in the heats at the South African National Athletics Championships at Coetzenburg in Stellenbosch at the weekend.
But in a tactical race in the final on Saturday, Cronjé was undone by 25-year-old Folavio Sehohle, who took the tape at 3:42.41, with another athlete in Dumisane Hlaselo – who was the fastest qualifier for the final – second in 3:42.54.
Cronjé, came home with the bronze in 3:42.58, and it is a result that is sure to rankle the SA record holder, whose 3:31.93 national mark was set in Italy in 2013.
Now the Free State athlete has an opportunity to take revenge almost immediately on Sehohle, with the third leg of the Athletics South Africa Night Series taking place in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday night (6pm start).
All three medal winners from the SA championships, as well as fourth-placed Jerry Motsau, who also finished closely behind Botha, will race at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Stadium, so there are sure to be fireworks as they strive to run an Olympic qualifying time of 3:36.20.
Another showdown that’s sure to enthral the PE crowd will come in the 110m hurdles, where Western Province’s Antonio Alkana – who successfully defended his national title in Stellenbosch – will look to hold off Tshepo Lefete and Ruan de Vries once more.
The cool conditions probably affected Alkana’s chances of breaking Lehann Fourie’s SA record of 13.24 at the weekend, but he would’ve been pleased to at least post an Olympic qualifier of 13.37, which was also a world-leading time for 2016.
Alkana’s personal best of 13.32 came in Brazzaville last year when he took gold at the African Games, and he would want to get past that mark soon ahead of the Rio Olympics in August.
In the female division, the standout event is the 400m flat, where 400m hurdles champion Wenda Nel, who ran a world-class 54.84 to win the national title at the weekend, will be facing off with 2015 World Student Games champion Justine Palframan, who had to withdraw from the SA champs due to injury and couldn’t defend her title against Caster Semenya, who produced a blistering run to win in 50.74.
“I use the 400m as training, so I don’t put any expectations on myself,” Nel said in a statement on Monday. “I wanted to race a 400m earlier in the season, but it didn’t work out, so I really want to put in another 400m.”
Other events to watch out for will be the men’s 400m flat, where hurdles champion LJ van Zyl and Botswana 800m superstar Nijel Amos will do some speed work, while Stephen Mokoka – who did the 5 000m-10 000m double at Coetzenburg – will do the shorter race again in PE.
In the field events, veteran Chris Harmse will hope to record an Olympic qualifying distance of 77.00m in the hammer throw after winning yet another SA title with 73.32m, while shot put champion Orazio Cremona will want to do the same after failing to clear 20 metres in Stellenbosch.
@IndyCapeSport – Independent Media