Team SA bags 4 more medals at the World Athletics U20
Mine de Klerk and Dane Roets medals are two of South Africa’s eight medals claimed so far at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi.
Mine de Klerk wins a gold medal in the women’s shot put final at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Kenya, 21 August 2021. Picture: World Athletics/Dan Vernon.
JOHANNESBURG – Team South Africa snatched four more medals at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Kenya on Saturday.
Mine de Klerk led from the front as she won the women’s shot put final, winning gold with a best attempt of 17.40m.
It was her second medal at the Championships after she grabbed silver in the discus throw on Friday.
Speaking to Jess Whittington for World Athletics, Mine de Klerk said “It’s overwhelming, I still can’t believe it’s true.”
“I definitely wanted to win a medal in the shot put, gold was my goal. In the discus, I didn’t expect to get a medal at all. I just came to enjoy it. When I got the silver I was blown away,” said the 18-year-old followed her opening 17.30m with throws of 17.24m, 16.77m, 17.15m, a foul, and then 17.40m.
Fellow South African and 2018 African Youth Games champion Dane Roets wrapped up an impressive SA double by taking bronze in the shot put with a 15.61m heave, while Pinar Akyol of Turkery earned silver (16.72m).
Theirs were two of South Africa’s eight medals claimed so far at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi.
Min De Klerk wins the #WorldAthleticsU20 shot put gold with 17.40m
The South African is joined on the podium by her compatriot Dane Roets who wins bronze pic.twitter.com/rAZ1Z7vrq9
World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 21, 2021
On the track, Matthys Nortje fought hard in the men’s 400m final, earning bronze in a personal best of 45.32. Though he missed out on the podium, Lythe Pillay also set a career-best (45.53) to finish fourth in the one-lap sprint.
Anthony Pesela of Botswana won gold in 44.58.
“I never expected to claim bronze, going by the tough opponents I was up against,” Nortje said. “My compatriot Pillay was the favourite by far, given the kind of experience he has had this season. I will take a few weeks off to reflect on the season.”
Fellow sprinter, Sinesipho Dambile, snatched bronze to round off the country’s 4th medal in the men’s 200m final. Dambile set a season’s best of 20.48 to finish third in a race won by Nigerian athlete Udodi Chudi Onwuzurike in 20.21.
“It was a pretty good race and I’m happy I won this bronze medal for my brother who died in a road accident last year. I dedicate it to him,” Dambile said. “I also didn’t have good preparations because of a nagging injury, but now I’m ok. I will go back home and train for next year’s World Athletics Championships in Eugene.”
Anthony Pesela wins the mens #WorldAthleticsU20 400m title in a championship record 44.58.
Mexicos Luis Avils Ferreiro sets a national U20 record for silver. pic.twitter.com/mS5TIqgCNh
World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 21, 2021
In the women’s 400m final, Precious Molepo ended fifth in 53.98, with Imaobong Nse Uko of Nigeria securing victory in 51.55.
High jumper Brian Raats was fifth in the final of his specialist discipline, clearing the bar at 2.14m.
Yonathan Kapitolnik of Israel won gold with a 2.26m clearance.
The SA 4x100m relay team of Mihlali Xhotyeni, Henru Olivier, Letlhogonolo Moleyane and Bradley Oliphant, won their first-round heat in 39.33 to equal the African U20 record set by Silisapho Dingiswayo, Thando Dlodlo, Tsebo Matsoso and Retshidisitswe Mlenga in Boksburg in March 2018. They will line up again in the relay final on Sunday.
READ: SA bags two more medals at the World Athletics U20
The SA men’s 4x400m team – Divan Vlok, Adrian John Swart, Keanu Domingo and Ryan Jordan – ended fifth in their heat in 3:10.45 and did not progress to the final.
Discus thrower Juan Oosthuizen was 12th in the qualifying round with a 50.19m effort, booking his place in Sunday’s final. Marissa Swanepoel finished 17th in the women’s 10 000m walk in 51:59.20 and Janise Nell ended 23rd in 54:30.80.
Abednico Choba finished fifth in his 800m semi-final, setting a personal best of 1:48.23 while Christiaan Venter was seventh in his 400m hurdles semi-final in 54.71, with both athletes missing out on the finals of their respective events.
“This has been a successful day at the office for Team SA today. The grit and determination seen in the day’s competition was a marvel to watch in our athletes. We congratulate all athletes who won us medals and wish those still in competition well,” said the President of Athletics South Africa, James Moloi.
READ MORE: SA’s Mirè Reinsdorf sets African record, wins gold at World Athletics U20
Incredible mens #WorldAthleticsU20 400m final
A championship record for Anthony Pesela
A Mexican U20 record for Luis Avils Ferreiro
Personal bests and a seasons best for the rest of the field pic.twitter.com/q3TCPt6Uq1World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 21, 2021
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