The University of Johannesburg’s discus star Johan Scholtz claimed gold for South Africa at the 12th CAA African Junior Athletics Championships, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 5 to 8. He’s pictured here on his return to SA with coach Pierre Blignaut (centre) and girlfriend and fellow gold medallist Leandri Geel. Photo: Supplied
University of Johannesburg discus star Johan Scholtz claimed gold for South Africa at the 12th CAA African Junior Athletics Championships, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from March 5 to 8.
Scholtz sailed ahead of his nearest rivals with a winning throw of 57.57m, outdistancing his previous personal best of 56.76m in the process.
Fellow UJ student and triple jumper Zinzi Chabangu came within 12cm of her own SA record to land a jump of 13.03m and the bronze medal in that event.
Another first-year field athlete, Wanzel Breytenbach, joined her classmates for a respectable fifth-place finish in the shot-put with a heave of 11.73m.
Scholtz said his performance had gone according to plan but that setting a new PB had been an unexpected highlight.
“The weather was perfect and the crowd was amazing, cheering us on while we participated in our events.”
The eighteen-year-old business management student said it had been a privilege to be able to compete for his country at international level.
“I wasn’t familiar with my competitors and when we arrived at the stadium the adrenaline began to pump and I was a bit nervous,” he said.
Scholtz, who hails from Pretoria, said it was soon clear that the athletes from Egypt would be his biggest challengers on the day.
“They are very competitive field athletes,” he said.
His predictions proved correct as that country’s Hassan Elshabrawy took silver with a distance of 54.74m, while fellow South African Jason van Rooyen rounded out the podium for a throw of 52.68m.
Scholtz previously represented South Africa at the 2013 IAAF Youth World Championships in Donesk, Ukraine, where he placed 13th in his signature event.
The UJ student also scooped the gold medal at the African Union Sports Council under-20 youth games in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, last year.
“My aspiration is to throw 60m by the end of the year, and then, like every athlete, my dream is to compete in the Olympic Games.”
Scholtz’s next competition will be at the Central Gauteng Athletics meeting on March 14 where he will be aiming to qualify for the SA championships.
Read more on MyJHB.
Join the fun: Add Your event | Submit a Press Release | Add your listing.
