[09:54, 27/01/2024] Sifiso Cele - Media Dept: Adriaan Wildschuut opened his 2024 season in spectacular fashion on Friday night, breaking his own South African 5 000m short track record.

Competing at the BU John Thomas Terrier Classic meeting in Boston, Wildschutt stormed to victory in 12:56.76, holding off a challenge from American Nico Young who finished second in 12:57.14.

The 25 year-old South African obliterated the previous national short track mark of 13:09.30 which he had set in Boston in February last year.
He also made history by becoming the first South African to dip under the 13-minute barrier over the 5 000m distance.

"Congratulations to Adriaan! Interesting performance at the start of the year and we hope it signals the good that's yet to come from all our athletes.

"Well done to the coaches and support staff for keeping the athlete focussed," said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. 

* All records must first go through ratification. 

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg. 

ENDS
[14:50, 27/01/2024] Sifiso Cele - Media Dept: ASA HOLDS SUCCESSFULL ATHLETES & COACHES INDABA

On Saturday Athletics South Africa concluded a one-day family meeting with athletes and coaches.

Held at the Garden Court OR Tambo hotel at Isando, Kempton Park in Johannesburg, a near-full house discussed amongst others, matters arising from the previous season, the new 2024 season that include the domestic and international road ahead.

President James Moloi,  thanked athletes for their hard work last year and encouraged them to work even harder to qualify for the mega international competitions including the Olympics Games in Paris in August. 

Retired long jumper, olympian silver medallist and SASCOC Board Member, Khotso Mokoena, gave encouragement to the current athletes and gave advice on accessibility to SASCOC support and other matters. Mokoena also stressed that the discussions that are held between coaches and athletes should be followed with a strong outcome by ASA to ensure that action is taken after the dialogues to elevate the athletes' performances. He then congratulated ASA for taking a leap to engage either athletes and coaches to help them prepare better.

Athletes also raised questions on matters that they felt needed ASA attention, to which the federation undertook to address. The meeting also discussed the selection criteria for the All African Games, Olympics,  CAA African Championships and WA U20 Championships. 

There was also  presentations on anti-doping by SAIDS (South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport), Safeguarding and mental health.

"It is tradition that we start the year by sitting down with athletes and coaches to prepare for the new season. This assists us to clear outstanding and new matters. This way we are able to explan and attend to athletes' expectations and concerns. This was therefore a successfull time for us in the family, " said Moloi.

Like our Facebook page:  Athletics South Africa 

Instagram:  asa_athletics_south_africa 

Twitter:  @AthleticsSA_ 

Website:  www.athleticssa.org.za 

About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg. 

ENDS