SITHEMBISO MKHIZE
UKWEHLULEKA kwabasubathi bakuleli ukuthi benze izikhathi ezifanele zokungena kuma-Olympic Games, sekuphoqe i-Athletics South Africa (ASA) ukuthi izijube ibalekelele njengoba kubhekwe ukuthi babuye nezindondo.
Ngeledlule iSascoc imemezele isikwata sesikhashana sabadlali abawu-64, abasemathubeni okugcina bemele elakuleli kule midlalo okulindeleke iqale ngoJulayi 23 eTokyo, eJapan.
Abeqembu labagijimi bawu-15 abasafakiwe.
Kulolu luhlu, kazibonwa nangokhalo izinyamazane ezanqobela elakuleli izindondo zegolide kuma-Olympic, ayaseRio de Janeiro, eBrazil ngo-2016.
Laba uWayde van Niekerk owaphula irekhodi ku-400m noCaster Semenya ku-800m. USemenya ongasavumelekile ukugijima kuleli banga, udonsa kanzima ukwenza isikhathi sokuhlunga esiwu-15:10.00 ebangeni lika-5000m.
Ngesifanayo noVan Niekerk ongakasigijimi isikhathi esingu-44.90 ku-400m noma u-20.24 obekelwe ukungena ku-200m. Kakubona kuphela, kukhona noGlenrose Xaba, Precious Mashele, Mbuleli Mathanga ukusho abambalwa abangakazibeseli izindawo.
Umengameli we-ASA, uJames Moloi, wazise Isolezwe ukuthi lesi simo sibaphoqe ukuthi benze umqhudelwano ozokwaziwa nge-ASA Track & Field Series ozoba ngoJuni 12, eGreen Point Stadium eCape Town.
Uveze ukuthi banethemba lokuthi bakhona abazokwenza izikhathi ngaphambi kokuyozama enye inhlanhla kuma-African Athletics Championships aqala ngoJuni 23-27, eLagos eNigeria. Wumqhudelwano wokugcina kumazwe akuleli zwekazi ukuhlungela ama-Olympic.
"Kusinda kwehlela, abasubathi bethu abaningi abakazenzi izikhathi ezibafaka kuma-Olympic. Lapha ngibala nezethenjwa zethu, uWayde noCaster. Sihlalele ethembeni lokuthi bakhona abazozenza eKapa," kubeka uMoloi.
Emqhudelwaneni iNewtown Classic Qualifier, ebingempelasonto edlule eKings Park Athletics Stadium, eThekwini, uSemenya uphinde wwhluleka ukwenza u-15:10.00 wokungena kuma-Olympic ku-5000m. Ugcine enze u-15:32.15.
Empeleni akekho owakuleli owenze isikhathi esiphethe ithikithi eliya eTokyo, kuwona wonke amabanga obekuqhudelwana kuwo.
Emasontweni edlule, uVan Nierkerk uthuse abaningi etshengisa izimpawu zokulimala ngenkathi egijima u-200m, kwi-Adidas Boost Boston Games, e-USA lapho eseziqeqeshela khona. Uwuqale kahle umjaho, nokho waya esiphethweni esehamba kancane, exhuga.
Amaphaphu ehliswe yiMenenja yakhe uPeet van Zyl, eveze ukuthi umonakalo bewumncane kakhulu. Naye uVan Nieker ocijwa nguLance Brauman wase-USA, ulobe ekhasini lakhe le-twitter, eqinisekisa ukuthi ungumqemane.
UVan Zyl ubuye watshela Isolezwe ukuthi lo mgijimi uzobe engekho emjahweni ozoba eGreen Point Stadium. Uthe umatasa nemijaho yase-Europe, azama ukwenza kuyo izikhathi ezinhle. UVan Niekerk, ucashunwe kwi-IOL Sport eveza ukuthi akanankinga yokushaya izikhathi zokuya eJapan, lokho uzokwenza maduze.