Cornel Fredericks‚ who was yesterday named in a 96-strong SA team for the African championships later this month‚ is in a race against time to qualify for the Rio Olympics in August.
The world No2 from 2014 has just four scheduled races between now and the July 11 qualifying deadline to clock the 49.40sec standard for the 400m hurdles.
But England-based Fredericks‚ who was in the country to renew his visa‚ is unfazed. “I’m still confident. I’ve proven in the past that I’m capable of running these times and faster.
“I’ve had ups and downs in my season at the moment‚ but I just have to stay focused and positive. I have four races left‚” said Fredericks‚ the reigning Commonwealth Games champion who clocked a 48.25sec season’s best two years ago.
An Achilles injury derailed the start of his 2015 season‚ and then just before the world championships he suffered a hamstring tear‚ ending his year.
“I just need the races now. I haven’t competed that much in the past two years — only four races‚ I think — so my body still needs to adjust to the load of competition and stuff.
Fredericks‚ who went 49.75 in his first race back at the national championships in Stellenbosch in April‚ failed to break 50 at a meet in Belgium recently.
“I know I’m much better than a 50 second runner. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my running‚ it’s just a mental thing. On the day I didn’t pitch‚ or I was thinking too much. This happens to athletes.”
His personal best remains the 48.14 he ran in 2011 in Durban‚ the scene of the June 22-26 African championships‚ where he hopes to defend his crown from two years ago.
Fredericks will compete next in Lucerne on June 14.
The SA team for the continental championships‚ which according to Athletics SA has entries from all 54 African nations‚ is:
Men
Akani Simbine (100m‚ 200m); Henrico Bruintjies (100m); Tlotliso Gift LEOTLELA (100m); Wayde Van Niekerk (200m); Clarence Munyai (200m); Thapelo Phora (400m); Pieter Conradie (400m); Shaun de Jager (400m); Jacob Rozani (800m); Kabelo Mohlosi (800m); Rynhardt van Rensburg (800m); Dumisane Hlaselo (1500m); Johan Cronje (1500m); Elroy Gelant (5000m); Stephen Mokoka (10000m); Gladwin Mzazi (10000m); Rantso Mokopane (3000m steeplechase); Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles); Ruan de Vries (110m hurdles); Tshepo Lefete (110m hurdles); Lindsay Hanekom (400m hurdles); LJ van Zyl (400m hurdles); Cornel Fredericks (400m hurdles); Keagan Fourie (high jump); Chris Moleya (high jump); Garth Ellis (high jump); Eben Beukes (pole vault); Migael Cilliers (pole vault); Heinrich Smit (pole vault); Ruswahl Samaai (long jump); Luvo Manyonga (long jump); Stefen Brits (long jump); Khotso Mokoena (triple jump); Menzi Mthembu (triple jump); Reneilwe Aphane (triple jump); Orazio Cremona (shot put); Jaco Engelbrecht (shot put); Burger Lambrechts (shot put); Victor Hogan (discus); Russell Tucker (discus); Dewald van Heerden (discus); Chris Harmse (hammer throw); Tshepang Makhethe (hammer throw); Johan Kruger (hammer throw); Philmar van Rensburg (javelin); Chad Herman (javelin); Tobie Holtzhausen (javelin); Fredriech Pretorius (decathlon); Willem Coertzen (decathlon); Lebogang Shange (20km walk); Wayne Snyman (20km walk); Marc Mundell (20km walk).
Women:
Carina Horn (100m); Alyssa Conley (100m‚ 200m); Tebogo Mamatu (100m); Tamzyn Thomas (200m); Justine Palframan (200m); Tsholofelo Thipe (400m); Zoë Engler (400m); Jenelle Griesel (400m); Caster Semenya (800m‚ 1500m); Liza Kellerman (800m); Dominique Scott (1500m‚ 5000m‚ 10000m); Irvette van Zyl (5000m); Glenrose Xaba (10000m); Keneilwe Sesing (10000m); Nolene Conrad (3000m steeplechase); Claudia Heunis (100m hurdles); Maryke Brits (100m hurdles‚ long jump); Taylon Bieldt (100m hurdles); Wenda Nel (400m hurdles); Jean-Mare Senekal (400m hurdles); Gezelle Magerman (400m hurdles); Julia du Plessis (high jump); Britanny Uys (high jump); Yvonne Robson (high jump); Jodie Sedras (pole vault); Esli Lamley (pole vault); Christie Nell (pole vault); Lynique Prinsloo (long jump); Samantha Pretorius (long jump); Patience Ntshingila (triple jump); Zinzi Chabangu (triple jump); Ischke Senekal (shot put‚ discus); Lezaan Jordaan (shot put); Leandri Geel (discus); Stefanie Greyling (hammer throw); Margo Chene Coetzee (hammer throw); Marga Cumming (hammer throw); Sunette Viljoen (javelin); Megan Wilke (javelin); Jo-Ane van Dyk (javelin); Bianca Erwee (heptathlon); Nienka du Toit (heptathlon); Anel Oosthuizen (20km walk).
SA athletics star in race against time to qualify for Olympics
Cornel Fredericks‚ who was yesterday named in a 96-strong SA team for the African championships later this month‚ is in a race against time to qualify for the Rio Olympics in August.
The world No2 from 2014 has just four scheduled races between now and the July 11 qualifying deadline to clock the 49.40sec standard for the 400m hurdles.
But England-based Fredericks‚ who was in the country to renew his visa‚ is unfazed. “I’m still confident. I’ve proven in the past that I’m capable of running these times and faster.
“I’ve had ups and downs in my season at the moment‚ but I just have to stay focused and positive. I have four races left‚” said Fredericks‚ the reigning Commonwealth Games champion who clocked a 48.25sec season’s best two years ago.
An Achilles injury derailed the start of his 2015 season‚ and then just before the world championships he suffered a hamstring tear‚ ending his year.
“I just need the races now. I haven’t competed that much in the past two years — only four races‚ I think — so my body still needs to adjust to the load of competition and stuff.
Fredericks‚ who went 49.75 in his first race back at the national championships in Stellenbosch in April‚ failed to break 50 at a meet in Belgium recently.
“I know I’m much better than a 50 second runner. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my running‚ it’s just a mental thing. On the day I didn’t pitch‚ or I was thinking too much. This happens to athletes.”
His personal best remains the 48.14 he ran in 2011 in Durban‚ the scene of the June 22-26 African championships‚ where he hopes to defend his crown from two years ago.
Fredericks will compete next in Lucerne on June 14.
The SA team for the continental championships‚ which according to Athletics SA has entries from all 54 African nations‚ is:
Men
Akani Simbine (100m‚ 200m); Henrico Bruintjies (100m); Tlotliso Gift LEOTLELA (100m); Wayde Van Niekerk (200m); Clarence Munyai (200m); Thapelo Phora (400m); Pieter Conradie (400m); Shaun de Jager (400m); Jacob Rozani (800m); Kabelo Mohlosi (800m); Rynhardt van Rensburg (800m); Dumisane Hlaselo (1500m); Johan Cronje (1500m); Elroy Gelant (5000m); Stephen Mokoka (10000m); Gladwin Mzazi (10000m); Rantso Mokopane (3000m steeplechase); Antonio Alkana (110m hurdles); Ruan de Vries (110m hurdles); Tshepo Lefete (110m hurdles); Lindsay Hanekom (400m hurdles); LJ van Zyl (400m hurdles); Cornel Fredericks (400m hurdles); Keagan Fourie (high jump); Chris Moleya (high jump); Garth Ellis (high jump); Eben Beukes (pole vault); Migael Cilliers (pole vault); Heinrich Smit (pole vault); Ruswahl Samaai (long jump); Luvo Manyonga (long jump); Stefen Brits (long jump); Khotso Mokoena (triple jump); Menzi Mthembu (triple jump); Reneilwe Aphane (triple jump); Orazio Cremona (shot put); Jaco Engelbrecht (shot put); Burger Lambrechts (shot put); Victor Hogan (discus); Russell Tucker (discus); Dewald van Heerden (discus); Chris Harmse (hammer throw); Tshepang Makhethe (hammer throw); Johan Kruger (hammer throw); Philmar van Rensburg (javelin); Chad Herman (javelin); Tobie Holtzhausen (javelin); Fredriech Pretorius (decathlon); Willem Coertzen (decathlon); Lebogang Shange (20km walk); Wayne Snyman (20km walk); Marc Mundell (20km walk).
Women:
Carina Horn (100m); Alyssa Conley (100m‚ 200m); Tebogo Mamatu (100m); Tamzyn Thomas (200m); Justine Palframan (200m); Tsholofelo Thipe (400m); Zoë Engler (400m); Jenelle Griesel (400m); Caster Semenya (800m‚ 1500m); Liza Kellerman (800m); Dominique Scott (1500m‚ 5000m‚ 10000m); Irvette van Zyl (5000m); Glenrose Xaba (10000m); Keneilwe Sesing (10000m); Nolene Conrad (3000m steeplechase); Claudia Heunis (100m hurdles); Maryke Brits (100m hurdles‚ long jump); Taylon Bieldt (100m hurdles); Wenda Nel (400m hurdles); Jean-Mare Senekal (400m hurdles); Gezelle Magerman (400m hurdles); Julia du Plessis (high jump); Britanny Uys (high jump); Yvonne Robson (high jump); Jodie Sedras (pole vault); Esli Lamley (pole vault); Christie Nell (pole vault); Lynique Prinsloo (long jump); Samantha Pretorius (long jump); Patience Ntshingila (triple jump); Zinzi Chabangu (triple jump); Ischke Senekal (shot put‚ discus); Lezaan Jordaan (shot put); Leandri Geel (discus); Stefanie Greyling (hammer throw); Margo Chene Coetzee (hammer throw); Marga Cumming (hammer throw); Sunette Viljoen (javelin); Megan Wilke (javelin); Jo-Ane van Dyk (javelin); Bianca Erwee (heptathlon); Nienka du Toit (heptathlon); Anel Oosthuizen (20km walk).
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos