Girl Power onslaught throws down the challenge to the boys at the Yellow Pages SA Youth and Junior Track and Field Championships (Germiston)

Last Updated on Friday, 09 April 2010 13:20

Expect fast times, high and far jumps and supreme distance throws as SA’s top young talent strives to post qualifying performances to represent the SA team at the 13th IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships in Canada in July this year.

Smith, 18,  threw a season best distance of 57.13 metres – a national girls under 19 age group record – at the national schools championships on March 26 – way beyond her previous season best of 55.31 set in Oudtshoorn earlier last month. 

Menlopark High scholar Steenkamp will be looking for her third national title of the season in the 100 metres hurdles discipline having collected gold at the Yellow Pages SA Senior Track and Field Championships in Durban and the top position at the national schools championships.

Steenkamp will head to Germiston off the back of a win (13.75 secs) at the final leg of the Yellow Pages Series at the same venue on Tuesday, but if perfect weather conditions prevail, few would bet against her coming close to her season best of 13.61 set at the Yellow Pages Series event held at the University of Johannesburg on March 24.

Free State’s Danelle Erwee is another athlete who could add to the Girl Power medal onslaught, having put in a national record effort of 12.57 in the under 17 competition at the national schools event and will be out in search of more success in the triple and long jump events this weekend.

At a time when SA track and field has bid a fond farewell to the recently retired shot put star Janus Robberts, the stage is set for the Vaal Triangle’s Ruan Combrink, at the tender age of 15 years, is a talent to be monitored, especially after his national record mark of 20.51 in the under 15 age group competition at the national schools championships. This time he will be a part of the youth level competition.

Gauteng-based sprinter Rudolf Erasmus is another rising star who has the ability to rise to the occasion, following his national under 17 record in the 100 metres (10.50) at the high schools showpiece.

Over 1200 athletes are expected to descend on the Germiston Stadium in the hunt for medals at 1661 metres above sea level.