Competing in cold and wet conditions at Coetzenburg Stadium, long jump prodigal star Luvo Manyonga produced an electric performance on Friday, winning his first national title in seven years on Day 2 of the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships in Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
Manyonga, a former world champion and Olympic silver medallist, won the SA title for the first time since 2019, with the 35-year-old landing at 8.04 metres.
The national record holder held off a challenge from an impressed Boland Athletics (BOLA) teammate Divan Manuel, who bagged the silver medal with a 7.95m leap, while Levi Fick secured bronze for Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) with a 7.32m jump.
"This means the world to me. You never right off a person's dream. As long as the person is still alive, the dream is still alive," Manyonga said. "Today is the day I've been looking for. Last year I came No 6 in the final and now I'm just jumping to give hope to people and show that whenever you get that chance, you'd better use it."
WILLIAMS AND LE ROUX WIN
In other field events finals, Ryan Williams won the men's discus throw for Athletics Mpumalanga (AMPU) after sending the implement sailing out to 55.62m, and Matao le Roux (BOLA) cleared 2.05m to take the men's high jump title.
Zinzi Xulu took the women's triple jump with a best attempt of 12.90m for Athletics Gauteng North (AGN), and former SA record holder Leandri Holtzhausen won gold in the women's hammer throw with a 67.70m heave. Claiming the crown as South Africa's most versatile athlete, Enya Pooler (BOLA) won the two-day heptathlon competition after raking in 5 310 points.
VAN RENSBURG AND JOSEPH CLAIM TITLES
In the only track finals on the day, Wernich van Rensburg and Rogail Joseph earned their maiden national titles in the men's and women's 400m hurdles. Van Rensburg, representing Athletics Free State (AFS), produced a powerful finish to take the men's final in 50.05, edging out former national champion Lindukuhle Gora (AGN) who settled for the runner-up spot in 50.26.
Joseph, an Olympic semifinalist, dominated the women's contest to win in 55.94 for Athletics Central North West (ACNW), with former World Athletics U20 Championships medallist Hannah van Niekerk (AGN) grabbed silver in 56.70.
After two days of competition, Athletics Gauteng North retained their lead in the overall standings with 18 medals (seven gold, six silver and five bronze).
Athletics Central North West were lying second with 12 medals (four gold, four silver and four bronze), and Central Gauteng Athletics were in third place with six medals (four gold and two silver).