Athletics South Africa – News – DE JAGER NAMED ATHLETE OF THE MEETING AT FINAL LEG OF SUMMER SERIES

Saturday, 15 December 2012 – Olympic 4x400m athlete Shaun de Jager was the overall athlete of the meeting after winning the men’s 300m hurdles at the final leg of the Summer Series which took place at the Tygerberg NLC Athletics club in Parow, Cape Town.

De Jager, better known as a 400m athlete, has decided to start competing in the 400m hurdles in the coming season.  “I want to start with the hurdles, but take it easy.  My main goal is to qualify for the World Championships in the 400m,” said De Jager after the race.  The 21 year-old from Maties won the race in 36.90sec, followed by Taariq Solomons and Ryan Nel, their times 36.99sec and 37.46sec respectively.

Roscoe Engel doubled up in the men’s 150m and 300m, winning both events.   “The 150m was a lot of fun as I had strong athletes to compete against.  When I came around the bend I knew that I have won,” said 4x100m African Champion.  Engel’s time was 15.51sec with Sergio Mullins second in 15.92sec.  Heinrich Fortuin finished third in 16.17sec.

But, it was the men’s 300m that caused the most excitement with a sprint to the finish line between Engel and Rodwell Ndlovu.  Ndlovu was the overall winner of the Oudtshoorn leg and also performed well at the Maties leg of the series.  In the end, Engel just won in 33.40sec with Ndlovu one hundredth of a second behind.  Sibusiso Sishi was third. “The 300m race really took me out of my comfort zone as there are lots of junior athletes coming through.  I now know where to improve,” said Engel.  For me it was just a huge confidence booster running so well against the bigger athletes,” said the 21 year-old Ndlovu.

Jean-Marie Senekal initially struggled against the strong wind “but the last 150m was easy” in the 300m hurdles for women.  The 2011 Africa Junior 400m hurdles Champion crossed the line in 43.65sec, followed by Helene Swanepoel and Darnelle Lewies.  Swanepoel’s time was 45.06sec while Lewies finished in 48.78sec.

Samantha Pretorius not only won the women’s long jump, but also finished ahead of Bernice Roman in the women’s 150m sprint.  Her best attempt in the long jump came in the third round with a jump of 5.78m.  In the 150m, Pretorius sprinted across the line in 17.95sec.

Sonja van der Merwe was dominant in the women’s 300m race, winning in 39.44

The top 6 athletes of the meeting were Shaun de Jager, Roscoe Engel, Rodwell Ndlovu, Henricho Bruintjies, Bernice Roman and Sonja van der Merwe. 

For full results:  www.athleticsresults.co.za/2012Tygerberg

Athletics South Africa – News

December 15, 2012  – Supplied by Athletics SA Admin from Athletics SA