Wilhelm de Swardt

Pretoria – Luvo Manyonga ensured a great highlight in Bottrop, Germany at the weekend when he bettered Khotso Mokoena’s South African junior long jump record from 8.09m to 8.19m.

With the performance the 18-year-old junior champion showed that he has a realistic chance to win a medal at next week’s world meeting for juniors in Canada.

Supanara Sukhasvasti (8.04), of Thailand, is the only other junior athlete to have jumped further than 8m this year.

Mokoena, who won a silver medal at the Olympic Games and World meeting, is very excited about the young Manyonga’s performance.

“I always knew that if there was one athlete that would improve my junior record, it would be him. He has incredible talent and a hunger to achieve. I will have to be careful now because Luvo can beat me if I slack down.”

Only 14 senior athletes have jumped 8.19m and further this year.

Mokoena’s best distance in 2010 is 8.15m.

Francois Fouche (8.21m) and Mokoena (8.50m) are the only SA seniors to have jumped further than Manyonga.