"I don't think it's the last time the record will be broken this season" - Fireworks expected for Women's Hammer Throw at SA Champs

With the Athletics South Africa Senior Track & Field Championships set to get underway tomorrow (16 April) at the Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch, one of the events that will be keenly watched is the women’s hammer throw. The battle will be between Collete Uys, who recently set a new national record with a 69.21m heave during a league meeting in Potchefstroom, and former national record holder Leandri Holtzhausen. Despite Uys achieving the highest mark, which she has yet to fully absorb, she believes the rivalry between herself, Holtzhausen, and Phethisang Makhethe will be the decisive factor in the event. She anticipates that her mark may be improved this year.

"That night it felt amazing and it was good. It took me a day or two to realize what actually happened. It felt unreal. I didn't expect it all. The Hammer Throw practice has been going better. I knew I was close into making a breakthrough and for me it wasn't anticipated," explains the former African Championships bronze medalist who eclipsed Makhethe's SA Record of 68.66 with the longest hammer throw ever produced by a South African woman.

Uys is in excellent hammer throw form this season after bettering the SA Record. Photo Credit: University of Pretoria.

"I think the Hammer Throw in South Africa, especially on the women's side, is at a point where it has never been this good. At the moment, there are three women competing for the SA Record. As much as I want to hold the record throughout the 2026 season, I don't think it's the last time the record will be broken this season. I think any three of us can break the record which is healthy competition," says Uys who won both the shot put and discus titles at the 2025 SA Championships, while taking silver in the hammer throw. 

With the women’s hammer throw national record having been improved upon three times in a year (2025), Uys' words may prove prophetic at this week's (16-18 April) national championships. Four-time SA Hammer Throw champion and former SA Record holder Holtzhausen, agrees with Uys. The 2015 African U20 discus champion believes the country's women have the capability to go beyond the 70-meter mark and start to make their presence felt in the global arena.

Haultzhazen is aiming to win a fifth SA Hammer Throw title, but will have stiff competition from Uys and Makhethe. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"I think the South African hammer throw is on the cusp of becoming more competitive internationally. It is definitely moving in the right direction as more and more hammer throwers are getting close to 70 meters. That will put us on an international level where we will actually be able to compete rather than just attending big championships," says the 28-year-old who is coached by the legendary Chris Harmse.

"South Africa has multiple coaches who are capable of improving hammer throw as an event. I'm sure that one day, in the near future, South African hammer throwers will be more present when teams are selected for big competitions such as the Commonwealth and the World championships. When rising stars see that the people who are currently competing in hammer throw are enjoying it and also reaching new levels by breaking records, they should be motivated to follow in those footsteps and reach even greater distances."