Johannesburg – Javelin thrower Sunette Viljoen was delighted with her performance at the Diamond League series final in Brussels on Friday night, after competing without her own implements.
Viljoen took second place in the women's javelin throw event in the Belgian capital, with a best heave of 64.30m, nearly four metres behind world record holder Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic who won with a best effort of 67.99m.
The 30-year-old South African ended in a tie for third place with German Linda Stahl in the Diamond League season standings in her specialist discipline.
“I couldn't have asked for a better result under the circumstances,” Viljoen said on Saturday.
“I am very pleased. I had to throw with javelins that were not my own, as mine were thrown out before the competition due to technical glitches, but I made the best of it.”
Having secured silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this season, before winning her fourth African title, Viljoen will target another medal as she joins the 12-strong SA contingent in the African team for the IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech next week.
She was the silver medallist at the 2010 edition of the quadrennial team championship in Split, Croatia.
“I am very excited about the Continental Cup,” she said.
“The fact that I bounced back from fourth place in Glasgow to clinch silver meant a lot for my confidence, and last night I proved to myself that I can conquer under any circumstances.
“That was my aim for this year - to never give up, no matter what - and in most of this year's competitions my last throw was the furthest.
“That shows me that I can fight till the very end and finish strong.” Elsewhere in Brussels, Khotso Mokoena won the men's long jump to become the first South African athlete to finish top of the Diamond League season standings in any discipline.
Mokoena, who bagged triple jump gold at the Commonwealth Games and the African Championships, had also won the long jump event at the Stockholm leg of the top-flight series last month.
He launched a season's best leap of 8.19m in Brussels to end the campaign with 12 points, four clear of Dutch athlete Ignisious Gaisah.
Cornel Fredericks, who won the men's 400m hurdles race at the first leg of the Diamond League final in Zurich last week, was the only other South African to finish on the podium in the series standings, taking third place overall in his event. – Sapa