Global champions Luke Davids and Sokwakhana “Soks” Zazini lived up to the hype on Thursday (28 March 2019) securing national titles in their specialist events on the opening day of the Twizza ASA U18 and U20 Track & Field Championships at the Dal Josaphat Athletics Stadium in Paarl.
Davids, who lined up as the firm favourite in the junior men’s 100m final after winning the short sprint title at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires last year, stormed to victory in 10.42 seconds.
The Western Province Athletics (WPA) speedster crossed the line 0.11 clear of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) opponent, Phathutshedzo Maswanganyi, who grabbed the silver medal in 10.53.
“I executed my race to perfection and it went according to plan,” Davids said. “I didn’t want to rush anything, so I just went through my phases and it’s a nice result.”
Rose Xeyi, representing AGN, was equally impressive in the junior women’s 100m final. She charged home in 11.91, adding the national U20 title to the U18 crown she won last year, with provincial teammate Remoneilwe Pasha taking second place in 12.17.
Zazini, meanwhile, was in dominant form in the junior men’s 400m hurdles final. Having won the world youth and junior titles in 2017 and 2018, Zazini was expected to steal the show on home soil, and while he did not display his best form, he won comfortably in 50.72.
“Of course I’m happy, but I just need to work on my fitness and a little bit on my technique and stride patterns,” Zazini said. “But everything is coming together now. This is my season’s best, so it’s looking good but it’s still early in the season.”
Earlier in the morning, Cwenga Nosa of Transkei put in an incredible solo effort in the men’s U20 10 000m race. Nosa took the lead just after halfway in the race and from there proceeded to time trial away from the chasing pack. His 30:32.62 time was 41seconds ahead of runner up Carlo Flink from Western Province (31:14.38). Flink, who had stormed into the early lead before being caught by Nosa, had to hang on for the silver medal, just edging Andries Sesedi from Central Gauteng Athletics (31:14.56).