After day two of the ASA Grand Prix 2 / Continental Tour Challenger at Germiston Stadium, Wednesday, 17 April, the following is what the athletes said.
Leandri Geel: Women’s hammer throw SA record (66:11)
I’m very happy with my achievement, though I didn’t expect that I’ll actually do it here. I came in here with confidence, because my coach told me that he believes I can throw further.
Gardeo Isaacs: Men 400m (45:30)
I am happy with the win and expected to run quicker, but we now move on to the next one. It was cold and I would have preferred warm weather conditions. I wanted to run a sub-45. Next week I am running in Botswana and hope to run a faster time. I will be based in Italy for one or two months and am still on track to qualify for the World Championships.
Sokwakhana Zazini: Men 400m hurdles (49.54)
It was a good run and I took everything easy it was cold and late. I told myself to clear one hurdle at a time and focus on that and go for the win. Hitting that final hurdle made it the worse race this season so far. Hitting that hurdle cost me. I also hit hurdles at the back. I could have run faster if I had not hit the final hurdle.
Zeney Van der Walt: Women 400m hurdles (55.28)
It was a nice race and another opportunity to execute what I did in training. But the weather was cold and I could not run faster. But I chose to take the positives from the race and was happy I could race again. I wanted to get another practice run before the start of the European season. After qualifying in the 400m hurdles and 400m, the plan is to prepare for the World Championships later this year.
Ferdinand Omanyala: Men 100m (10.06)
Yeah, the plan is still the same. We cannot lose our focus after two or three races. The important thing is that we finished the race healthy and a win is a win. It is faster than last week (10.08). We will cut the seconds as we draw closer to the World Senior Athletics Championships later this year. We remain on track to run sub-8 seconds.
Samuel Bitonyake: Men 100m second-place (10.22)
The race was good and we were trying to qualify for the World Senior Championships in Budapest later this year. Omanyala is running fast and Kenya is producing more sprinters, and we are hoping for the best in the sprinters. The facilities are good in South Africa and the coaches, training fields, and everything are the best. It would be my pleasure to run with Omanyala in Budapest.
Marione Fourie: Women 100m hurdles (13:00)
I am unhappy with the race because I was sick over the weekend. I had a gas, throat and was not happy. I wanted to run faster and was not feeling well. I will run in Hengelo in June and hope to qualify and run in Budapest. I will go for the whole of July for the European season. I will run in Potchefstroom next week.
SW Nel: 110m hurdles (13.93)
I felt good about my race. I completed sub-14 seconds for the first time in five races this year. I cannot complain about the weather and loved the level of competition. I was hasty and could not clear the hurdles properly, but I managed to get the win and a fast time. Next week I will run in Potchefstroom.
Reabetswe Moloi: Women 100m 11.65
I have been dealing with injuries and trying to get back into racing after being on the sidelines for a long time. The ASA Senior Track and Field Championships happened earlier than most years and did not go there with any pressure. We try to run our best races in April. It is good to win a race, but I would have preferred a faster time.
Taylon Bieldt: Women 200m (23:50)
I feel like it was a good day. My main event is the 400m hurdles, but 200m was good training for the 400m hurdles and I am happy with the training. I did not think my legs would carry me after running the 400m hurdles in the same day. My speed and fitness are getting better. I can expect better things going into the season.
Eckhart Potgieter: Men 200m (20.54)
I felt good and did not think I could go faster because it was cold. When I came out of the bend, I got into the rhythm. I knew it was me against (Tsebo Matsoso) because we had the fastest time on the draw sheet. I am thinking about running the qualifying time and nothing is impossible. One day I will get there.
Marie Viljoen: Women 400m (51:81)
I came here for the win, but could not run a faster time because of the cold weather. I wanted to run a tactical race and did it. I am running the ASA Grand Prix in Potchefstroom next week and University Sport South Africa Championships before going to Europe. So far, I am happy with my season.
Boitumelo Masilo: Men 800m (1:47:21)
I am happy with my performance and take it step-by-step. My main goal is to qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. I train in Potchefstroom and the level of competition is good, and the facilities and everything are the best in South Africa. I am going home to race in Botswana next week and am excited that I’ll be running against the big guns like Clayton Murphy of the USA.
Charne Swart: Women 800m (2:04:74)
It was a bit chilly, but not windy or anything like that. I was tired in the last 200m but happy with my effort. The competition was good for me and even though I was tired, I ran a good race. I am happy with my form. It is too much to ask to qualify for the World Championships this year. But I qualified for the World Student Games in China later this year. I will run in the Continental Tour Gold in Botswana next week and hope to run a fast time.
