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Johannesburg - Athletics South Africa (ASA) president Molatelo Malehopo assured on Thursday that there were still places up for grabs in the national team for next month’s 12th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin after the provisional squad was announced.
A team of 31 athletes left on Thursday for two training camps in Germany ahead of the global showpiece between August 15-23. They will spend two weeks in Potsdam, followed by another fortnight in Nieu Brandenburg before they move into the athletes village in Berlin on August 12.
Two of the athletes from the original team of 33 have withdrawn. Beijing Olympic 1 500m finalist Jean van Deventer is recovering from injury and versatile sprinter Tsholofelo Thipe, who qualified in the 400m sprint, is ill.
"We are leaving a window open for other athletes to qualify before the IAAF entry deadline on August 3," Malehopo said on Thursday. "If they qualify before then, they will be included in the team."
The provisional team of 31 will be desperate to end the country’s dry run at the World Championships.
South Africa won the last of their 10 medals in Paris in 2003 when they tied seventh with Kenya, bagging an impressive four medals - two gold, one silver and one bronze.
And this year’s squad stands a realistic chance of adding to the nation’s tally.
Olympic silver medallist Khotso Mokoena, ranked third in the world, is fresh off breaking his own South African record in the long jump - which now stands at 8.50 metres - and will be one of the favourites in his event.
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, who won bronze in Paris six years ago, is ranked only 15th in the world this year in the men‘s 800m, with a best time of 1:44.81, but his experience and consistency should see him in the running for another medal.
LJ van Zyl finished second in the 400m hurdles in Athens on Monday night in 48.18 seconds, jumping to fifth in the world rankings and showing impressive form going into the World Championships.
And on the women’s side, Sunette Viljoen travels to Germany carrying a real hope of returning with a medal as the fourth best javelin thrower in the world this year following her 65,46m African record in the qualifying rounds at the World University Games in Belgrade last week.
She went on to win the final.
The reigning Commonwealth Games champion has two African Championships medals to her credit and is in the form of her career.
ASA Provisional Team to the 12th IAAF World Championships:
Men:
Simon Magakwe (100m, 4X100m), Tshegofatsoe Mehoe (200m, 4X100m), Thuso Mpoang (200m), Kagisho Kumbane (4X100m), Hannes Dreyer (4X100m), Wilhelm van der Vyfer (4X100m), Pieter Smith (400m, 4X400m), Ofentse Mogawana (4X400m), Sibusiso Sishi (4X400m), Jacob Ramokoka (4X400m), Paul Gorries (4X400m), LJ van Zyl (4oomH), Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (800m), Johan Cronje (1 500m), Peter van der Westhuizen (1 500m), Ruben Ramolefi (3 000m Sc), Khotso Mokena (long jump), Willem Coertzen (decathlon), Chris Harmse (hammer), Robert Oosthuizen (javelin), Norman Dlomo (marathon), Coolboy Ngamole (marathon), Enos Matelane (marathon), Johannes Kekana (marathon), Lusapho April (marathon).
Women:
Isabel le Roux (200m), Caster Semenya (800m), Janice Josephs (long jump), Sunette Viljoen (javelin), Elizna Naude (discus), Tanith Maxwell (marathon)
Team management:
Kakata Maponyane (head of delegation), Hendrick Mokganyetsi (manager), Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane (manager), Humile Bogatsu (manager), Ekkart Arbeit (head coach), Wilfred Daniels (middle distance), Danson Muchoki (marathon), Dup du Preez (throws), Elna de Beer (jumps), Magda Botha (sprints), Eugene Thipe (sprints), Harold Adams (team doctor), Tumelo Komane, (physiotherapist), Aneurin Robyn (physiotherapist).
