SA hurdler impressive in Paris
Fredericks recorded a useful 48.42 seconds to end runner-up to Michael Tinsley in the 400m hurdles in the Paris Diamond League on Saturday.
This was Fredericks' second race in three days, having placed third in Lausanne on Thursday night in 49.00 behind Tinsley and Javier Culson.
The doubling-up of races should help Fredericks prepare for the multiple rounds in Glasgow, where he is now the leading South African medal contender for the event. LJ van Zyl, who has had a slower start to the season, also ran in Lausanne finishing sixth in 49.23.
Andre Olivier was the only other South African in Paris, finishing sixth in the 800m in 1:44.42, after a jostle in the final 200m saw him drop and unable to recover before the finish. Botswana’s Nijel Amos was second overall behind Asbel Kiprop, who ran 1:43.34.
Wayde van Niekerk provided the other South African highlight of the weekend with a new PB of 20.19 for fourth spot in the men’s 200m. This will give the SA 400m record holder a boost as he heads towards Glasgow.
Both Akani Simbine and Sunette Viljoen finished sixth in their competitions in Lausanne, with the young sprinter recording 10.18 in the 100m and Viljoen throwing 62.15 metres in the javelin.
Here in KZN, Sithembele Faneko completely dominated Sunday’s Forest hill 10km race. Tanith Maxwell was A clear winner in the ladies race over the relatively fast route in 36 minutes 47 seconds.
The Savages Supa Mama Half-Marathon and 10km race is the focus for next week and is open to everyone.
A special treat for slower runners is arrangements that see Comrades winner, Bongmusa Mthembu, and other Comrades gold medalists and elite runners drop back in the field to lead pacing buses over the two distances.
The 2014 Comrades hero will pull runners to a 50-minute finish time in the 10km, while Grace de Oliveira will target 55 minutes and the strong running Kerry Koen will assist anyone wishing to break 60 minutes.
Prodigal Khumalo, ninth in this year's down run, will lead the 1 hour 40 minute bus in the half marathon.
This is a pre-entry event and late entries will be take at the Cycle Track on the corner of Gobles and NMR Avenue on Saturday. No entries will be taken on Sunday before the 7am start.
(File Photo:Gallo Images)
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