19-year-old Marko Ferreira of EPA shines with 10.09 on day one of ASA age-group champs as Mnisi wins maiden SA 5000m title

Eastern Province Athletics (EPA) sprinter Marko Ferreira stole the spotlight with a statement performance on the opening day of the ASA Age-Group Championships at Germiston Stadium on March 26, delivering what was widely regarded as the performance of the day.

The 19-year-old blazed to a 10.09-second personal best in his semi-final before returning to clinch the U20 men’s 100m national title in 10.16. In doing so, Ferreira produced the upset of the day, beating favourites Mukona Manavhela (10.18) and Zattu Hlongwane (10.32) of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN). Speaking to #TheTopRunner after his semi-final, Ferreira perhaps surprisingly declared that it was not a perfect race.

"The start was good but it wasn't my best. I worked really hard at the end. My coach said I shouldn’t go all out — I did, and it’s a good thing I did," he said.

In the women’s race, Athletics Mpumalanga's Zoë Cilliers of Höerskool Nelspruit delivered another upset, edging sprint sensation Hannah Hope Vermaak to the gold in 11.62. Vermaak settled for silver in 11.72. Sprint prospect Camara Bintou continued her rise by winning the U16 girls' 100m in 11.97, while Boland's Vuyo Ngobeni secured the boys’ title in 10.70.

Boland claimed another gold through Faith Konde, who powered to victory in the U18 women’s 100m, getting the better of CGA’s long jump standout Oluchi Ndubueze. Konde crossed the line in 11.61, with Ndubueze finishing second in 11.72.

South African U18 and U20 100m record holder Viwe Jingqi and Western Province Athletics' Abduraghmaan Karriem closed off the day's sprint programme in style, claiming the U23 women's and men’s 100m titles respectively. Jingqi clocked 11.48, while Karriem stormed to victory in 10.26.

Earlier, Athletics Gauteng North's middle-distance ace Musawenkosi Mnisi got the championships off to a cracking start, winning the U23 men's 5000m ahead of CGA duo Zenzile Pheko (Central Gauteng) and Sibusiso Msibi (CGA). After a slow opening, Mnisi made his move with 800m to go, breaking clear to win in 14:10.56. Pheko followed in 14:26.87, with Msibi rounding out the podium in 14:27.12.

Athletics Vaal Triangle's Selna van As delivered a tactically astute performance to win the U20 women’s race in 17:49.03. Locked in a four-athlete battle with KZNA’s Anele Ndawonde, AGN’s Mpho Katiso and CGA’s Nthabiseng Nteka in the closing stages, Van As timed her break to perfection, surging away at the bell as her rivals faded. Ndawonde finished second, 5.66 seconds back, while Katiso took bronze in 17:58.11. AGN’s Melvin Mashishi secured the U20 men's 5000m gold in 14:37.87.

In the field events, Athletics Free State's hammer thrower Wian Bredenkamp produced a winning effort of 55.50m in the U16 boys’ competition, while CGA’s Mignon Le Grange claimed the U23 women’s shot put title with a throw of 14.23m. Elsewhere, AGN’s Nomboleko Qhama and CGA’s Yamkela Shosha claimed the U18 and U20 race-walking titles respectively, while AGN’s Rivers Williams secured gold in the U23 men’s 10 000m walk.