South Africa's top performing road runners, and track and field stars, were recognised for their efforts during the 2023 season by receiving well-deserved accolades at the annual ASA Awards over the weekend.

Distance runner Adriaan Wildschutt and sprint hurdler Marione Fourie were the big winners on the night, taking home the awards for ASA Male Athlete of the Year and ASA Female Athlete of the Year, respectively.

Wildschutt enjoyed a spectacular season, breaking national records in the 3 000m (7:52.38), 5 000m (13:02.46) and 10 000m (27:23.10) distances. He also took 14th place in the 10 000m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Fourie also enjoyed a memorable year on the track, shattering the national 100m hurdles record when she clocked 12.55 at a meeting in Switzerland. At the World Championships she reached the semifinals in her specialist event.

In other categories at the ASA Awards in Kempton Park, ultra-distance runners Tete Dijana and Gerda Steyn received Platinum awards.

Both athletes broke the 'down' run records at the 2023 Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal, while Dijana set a new national 50km mark by crossing the line in 2:39:04 in Gqeberha and Steyn broke her own South African record over the standard marathon distance stopping the clock at 2:24:03 in Valencia.

In the category of Personality of the Year, which was decided by public vote, the award went to 17 year-old middle-distance runner Wiepke Schoeman.

Award winners in all categories:

Male Athlete of the Year - Adriaan Wildschutt

Female Athlete of the Year - Marione Fourie

Junior Male Athlete of the Year - Armand van der Walt

Junior Female Athlete of the Year - Chane Kok

Male Prospect of the Year - Hencu Lamberts

Female Prospect of the Year - Alicia Khunou

Sportsman of the Year with a Disability - Mpumelelo Mhlongo

Sportswoman of the Year with  a Disability - Simone Kruger

Platinum award - Tete Dijana

Platinum award - Gerda Steyn

Sports Personality of the Year - Wiepke Schoeman

Coach of the Year - Michael Mbambani

Technical Official of the Year - Estelle Opperman

Technical Recognition by ASA President - Rosalinda Koch

Technical Recognition by ASA President - Pieter de Jager

Best Organised Championships - ASA Senior Championships (Athletics Central North West).

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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