Mokoena leads SA team to Russia

Athletics has selected a team of 30 athletes to compete at the IAAF championships in , Russia from August 10 to 18.The team consists of 22 track & field athletes, six marathoners and two race walkers.

The track & field team is spearheaded by the former world indoor champion and Olympic silver medallist, Khotso Mokoena. Mokoena will be backed up by his younger compatriot and SA long jump champion, Zark Visser. Long jump athlete Lynique Prinsloo, who is ranked 10th in the world, will make her debut at the World Championships.

The men’s 400m Hurdlers have met the IAAF A qualifying standard, LJ van Zyl who was a finalist in 2011 will be joined by Cornel Fredericks and PC Benecke. The national champion, Anneri Ebersohn, will be flying the flag high for South Africa in the women’s 400m hurdles. Orazio Cremona is the national champion for the men’s and is the only athlete chosen for this discipline.

The double World Student Games gold medallist Anaso Jobodwana has been included in the 100m and 200m. The exciting new talent, Akani Simbine, who set a new national junior 100m record in December last year will likely be included in the team. Simbine will be confirmed in the team provided no other athlete achieves a faster B qualifying standard before July 28.

Andre Olivier will line up in the 800m; he has been showing great form in the IAAF meetings this season. The rest of the team includes national record holders Johan Cronje (1500m), Willem Coertzen (), Lehann Fourie (110m hurdles), Chris Harmse (hammer throw) and Sunette Viljoen (javelin). African Champion, Victor Hogan (discus) and national 400m champion, Wade van Niekerk, complete the athletes who have achieved the A qualifying standard.

World Student Games gold medallist Stephen Mokoka has achieved the B qualifying standard in the 10 000m, joining Elroy Gelant (5000m), Robert Oosthuizen (javelin) and Justine Palframan (200m) as athletes who will be added to the final team provided no one achieves a better B qualifying standard than them.

The women’s team is a mix of experience and youth, with national champion and new revelation, Cornelia Joubert, joining Olympians Irvette van Zyl and Tanith Maxwell in the women’s team. The men’s team includes former New York Marathon winner and multiple national record holder, Hendrick Ramaala. Ramaala is joined by Lusapho April and Sibusiso Nzima. Two race walkers, Olympian Marc Mundell and Lebogang Shange will take part in the 50km and 20km events. The final team will be confirmed on 29 July, giving athletes who have not yet qualified a last opportunity to do so.

The Zwartkop & 10 km event takes place on 27 July at the Zwartkop Lapa on Wierda Road in Centurion at 7am.