Afrika Streek 5 Jeugkampioenskappe. Hoërskool Nelspruit se twee Suid-Afrikaanse jeug-atletiekkampioene, Ashley Erasmus en Shanese de Clerck, het met drie medaljes huiswaarts gekeer, nadat hulle vanaf 5 tot 9 Desember in Lilongwe (Malawi) die Republiek in die Afrika Streek 5 Jeugkampioenskappe verteenwoordig het.
Ashley was in die skyfwerp-item, heeltemal te sterk. Haar wenafstand van 47,18m is weliswaar meer as 5m swakker as haar beste vir 2022 (53,32m), maar was nietemin meer as 16m beter as Botswana se Angela Kaelo (30,94m) wat in die silwer posisie was. In gewigstoot, moes Ashley egter tweede viool speel, toe die ouer Zonnika Lindeque van Gauteng, met ‘n loop-
baanbeste van 15,87m (met die 4kg-gewig) goud verower het. Ashley se afstand was 14,90m, maar sy het vroeër vanjaar reeds met ‘n blink afstand van 15,61m getoon dat sy D.V. in 2023 weer verskeie rekords in die slag kan laat bly. Sy het tot onlangs nog met die ligter gewig (3kg) meegeding.
Net Goitseone Joel van Botswana, kon saamgesels toe Shanese op 1,60m oor die dwarslat geseil het. Toe sy op 1,65m uitval, was die goue medalje die meisie van die Laeveld s’n. Shanese het met gemak op 1,65m, en toe ook op 1,70m geslaag. Haar jaarbeste is 1,78m, wat die tweede hoogste is wat ‘n vroue-atleet van die RSA (enige ouderdomsgroep) vanjaar kon haal. Sy is ook in onlangse maande as Mpumalanga se vroue-atleet van die jaar, bekroon.
Baie geluk aan hierdie twee puik sportvroue, wat in 2023 die geledere van jeug-atlete (onder 18) vaarwel toeroep, en dan as juniors (onder 20) hulle atletiekloopbane sal hervat.
Africa Region 5 Youth Championships
Nelspruit High School’s two South African youth athletics champions, Ashley Erasmus and Shanese de Clerck, returned home with three medals after representing the Republic in the African Region 5 Youth Championships from 5 to 9 December in Lilongwe (Malawi).
Ashley was in the disc throw item, way too strong. Her winning distance of 47.18m is admittedly more than 5m weaker than her best for 2022 (53.32m), but was nonetheless more than 16m better than Botswana’s Angela Kaelo (30.94m) who was in the silver position. In weightlifting, however, Ashley had to play second fiddle, when the elder Zonnika Lindeque from Gauteng, won gold with a career best of 15.87m (with the 4kg weight). Ashley’s distance was 14.90m, but earlier this year she already showed with a bright distance of 15.61m that she can set several records again in 2023. Until recently, she was still competing with the lighter weight (3kg).
Only Goitseone Joel of Botswana, was able to rally when Shanese sailed over the crossbar at 1.60m. When she dropped out at 1.65m, the gold medal was the girl from the Lowveld’s. Shanese passed with ease at 1.65m, and then also at 1.70m. Her year-best is 1.78m, which is also the second highest a woman athlete from the RSA (any age group) could achieve this year. She was also crowned Mpumalanga’s Women’s Athlete of the Year in recent months.
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