SA top youth athletes eye World Championships qualifications in Pretoria

SA Youth Championships logo

The annual SA Sub-Youth, Youth, Junior and Under 23 Championships is set to take place at the Pilditch stadium in Pretoria from April 4-6, 2013. 

While this is a big opportunity for the best athletes in South Africa to showcase their talent, it is especially an opportunity for the youth athletes to qualify for the World Youth Championships taking place in Ukraine in July.

At the previous championships Lezaan Jordaan was one of the athletes that stood out with a massive 17.52m in the women’s shot put.  At the end of the year, her name was also next to the SA Record with the 3kg weight.

The 17 year-old competed as youth athlete at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona from 10-15 July 2012.  At the previous championships Jordaan and Geraldine Duvenage battled it out in the event, going head to head, with the winner only decided in the final round.  Jordaan, a junior athlete this year, should be a fierce competitor in the women’s shot put, while Duvenage will also compete again.

Apart from being the SA Youth 400m record holder, Justine Palframan also broke the South African junior record at the World Junior Championships in 2012, showing her potential to be a promising athlete for the future of athletics.  Her time of 51.87sec placed her fifth in the final of the Championships.

The 19 year-old, under coach Mohammed Ally, will be one of the familiar faces to see competing.  She won the Boland Championships on 23 March in 55.40sec and her added experience from the Jamaican training camp she attended at the end of 2012, will come in handy.

Youth high jump athlete Julia du Plessis became the third best youth high jump athlete at the same championships in 2012 as she cleared 1.88m in the girl’s high jump. 

She also became the youngest athlete in South African athletics history to reach a final at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona in July 2012.  The 16 year-old will compete in the event at Pilditch stadium with her best clearance of the season 1.80m at the Central Gauteng Championships on 9 March.

Three full days of action packed athletics lie ahead.  All spectators are urged to head to Pilditch Stadium to support the cream of South African athletics.  Proceedings will get underway at 06:30 daily.

The championships will include the following age categories:

  • Sub-Youth: 14 or 15 years old on 31 December 2013 (born in 1999 or 1998)
  • Youth: 16 or 17 years old on 31 December 2013 (born in 1997 or 1996)
  • Junior: 18 or 19 Years old on 31 December 2013 (born in 1995 or 1994)
  • Under 23: 20 to 22 years old on 31 December 2013 (born in 1991, 1992 or 1993)

Entry fees at the stadium will be R30 for adults while kids under the age of 15 get in for free.  Options for reserved seating will be available at R50 per ticket, but seats are limited.

Spar will be the proud sponsor of all food and beverages (for officials, volunteers and hospitality) at the SA Sub-Youth, Youth, Junior and Under 23 Championships.

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