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Cape Town - Dominique Scott-Efurd set a new indoor record and Desmond Mokgobu broke new ground in the marathon, as South African athletes begin their busy 2018 season around the world.
Opening her international season with a bang, distance runner Scott-Efurd broke new ground in New York on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old athlete, who is based in the United States of America, took third place in the 3 000m at the Millrose Games Indoor Meeting.
Crossing the line in 8:41.18*, she bettered her own South African record of 8:54.06 which she had set in Boston in January last year.
Scott-Efurd finished just off the pace of Jamaican athlete Aisha Praught-Leer, who won a sprint to the line in 8:41.10.
In a tightly contested race, 3 000m steeplechase world champion Emma Coburn of the USA, grabbed second place in 8:41.16.
Also producing the best performance of his career in Japan, Mokgobu snatched victory at the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon on Sunday morning.
The former national champion won a sprint finish in 2:09:31, holding off local athlete Hayato Sonoda by three seconds in a late charge for the line. Mokgobu took 80 seconds off the career best he set in Rotterdam in April last year.
In the process, he became the first South African to win the IAAF Silver Label race since national record holder Gert Thys in 2006 and he also becomes the 15th SA athlete to dip under the 2:10:00 barrier over the 42.2km distance.
"Congratulations to the two athletes for their marvelous performances so early in the season and we wish every other athlete a great 2018 across all disciplines during the domestic and international season,” said Aleck Skhosana, the President of Athletics South Africa.
“It has been a great weekend for South African athletes around the world, firstly with Dominique setting a national indoor record - which is still subject to ratification and then with Mokgobu carrying the flag on the road.”
* SA record subject to standard ratification processes
