Zattu Hlongwane may be only 19 years old, but age has never been the deciding factor in whether you are going to be fast on the athletics track.
The Tuks Sports Science student won the 100 metres under-20-final in 10.21 seconds at the Gauteng North Athletics Championships this past weekend at Pilditch. His winning time was the fastest on the day. Tuks’s Tshifura Mukhethwa won the under-23 race in 10.29s, and Emile Erasmus (Tuks) was victorious in the senior race, running 10.28s.
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According to Hlongwane, he was not surprised by the times he ran.
“I expected to be fast because my training has been going well. I have to thank my training partners. They are the ones who told me to think about the bigger picture. I believe I can be even faster.”
Hlongwane does not want to jinx himself, but he predicts that, if he does not get injured, at some stage during the season, he will be able to run a time close to 10.10s. His goal is to qualify for the World Junior Championships in August in Eugene, Oregon.
Asked what his best traits as a sprinter are, Hlongwane said he considers himself to be a power runner, which means that he is fast out of the starting blocks and often in the lead after the first 60 metres. He admits he needs to work on his top-end speed.
Funnily enough, athletics was not his favourite sport. In high school, he excelled in rugby and football.
“I played as flyhalf for our first team, and I used to be a striker in football. If it were not for financial constraints, I might have continued playing rugby despite knowing I am gifted as a runner. At first, I did not enjoy running, but things changed over the last two years as I started to win more races. I am now committed to running.”
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Other Tuks athletes who excelled at the Gauteng North Championships were Annestayshia George, who won the under-23 100 metres in 11.63s. It is a personal best. She was also victorious in the 200m running, 23.83s.
Zante van der Merwe set a personal best, winning the under-20 400 m final in 53.84s.
Carmie Prinsloo set a personal best in the 800m running 2:05.74. She won the 1500m in 4:17.03.
Tumi Ramakgopa won the under-20 100 m hurdles final in 13.39s. It was the second-fastest on the day, only Marione Fourie, who won the women’s senior race, was faster. Fourie’s winning time was 12.80s. Ramakgopa won the under-20 400m hurdles final in 56.88s.
Lesibde Dikgele is the under-20 men’s 400m hurdles champion, winning in 50.12s. It is a personal best. The senior men’s 400 m hurdles was won by Marthinus du Preez in 49.34s, which is also a personal best.
The women’s 400 metres was one of the most exciting races at the championships. Zeney Geldenhuys (TUT) won in 51.85s, Marlie Viljoen was second in 51.88s, just missing out on a personal best. Jada van Staden was third in 52.42s, which is a personal best.
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As has become the norm, Colette Uys again completed a hat trick, winning the shotput with a distance of 17.16 metres, the discus with a throw of 53.23 and the hammer throw with 63.26 metres. It is the fifth time this season that she has done so.
