AGN CLEAN SWEEP OF MEDALS TABLE AFTER ASA SENIOR T&F CHAMPS WENT TO THE WIRE ON FINAL DAY Athletics Gauteng North dominated the overall medals table tallying it with a whopping 44 medals (18 golds, 15 silver and 11 bronze) on the third and final day of the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships in Stellenbosch, Cape Town on Saturday. Central Gauteng Athletics took second place with 19 medals (10 golds, one silver and eight bronze), while Athletics Central North West ended third with 24 medals (five golds, 12 silver and seven bronze). The rain poured in buckets throughout the day at Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium, causing slippery conditions during competition with athletes falling to the dreaded muscle cramps. But despite the largely unfriendly weather which seemed to mimmic the previous day, the battle for the sought-after honours was certainly not dampened. Credit to the weather though for behaving on Day 1. Track athletes led from the front, producing some thrilling pound-for-pound contests under the wet circumstances. World Championships finalist Sinesipho Dambile, retained his national title in the men's 200m, stopping the clock at 20.02 seconds in the colours of Athletics Gauteng North (AGN). In the women's race, Kayla la Grange (CGA) stormed to victory in 23.37 after tearing away from the rest of the field down the finishing straight. "I had to win back-to-back," said Dambile. "I saw the consistency of [fellow sprinters Wayde van Niekerk and Akani Simbine] when they were there, and in the 200m I've never seen someone as consistent as Akani and Wayde, so I'm working towards that." Over the 400m distance, former world junior champion Lythe Pillay (CGA) lived up to the hype as the pre-race favourite took gold in the men's event in 45.22 in what was more of a one-horse race after he widened the gap. Marlie Viljoen, turning out for AGN, earned a comfortable victory in the women's race in 51.72. "The plan was just to execute... and it would have been nice to go for a time today, but the weather wasn't great and there's still a few races coming up this season, so I'm just gauging my body and trying to nail my consistency," Pillay said. In the 1 500m finals, the pre-race favourites delivered as expected in tactical cat-and-mouse battles to win. National record holder, Tshepo Tshite, won gold in 3:42.40 for KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) in the men's race, kicking past in-form Athletics Central North West (ACNW) athlete Luan Munnik in the chase for the line. Munnik held on for the silver medal in 3:43.35. Karabo More (CGA), who had also initially sat back went into turbo to win the women's 1 500m final in 4:11.54 after blasting past 800m specialist Prudence Sekgodiso (KZNA), who finished second in 4:14.38 despite taking a convincing lead where it seemed a shut case of victory. National record holder Marione Fourie was not seriously challenged in the women's 100m hurdles final, charging to victory in 12.69. In the mens contest, however, it was not that easy. Denmar Jacobs fought his way to victory in a tightly contested race in 13.47. Over the 400m hurdles, Wernich van Rensburg won gold in the men's race for Athletics Free State (AFS) in 50.09, and 2024 African champion Rogail Joseph, (ACNW) took the women's contest in 55.94, with both athletes securing their first national senior titles. Tayla Kavanagh earned gold in the women's 10 000m event in 32:05.59 (AGN), lapping every other athlete in the field to wrap up a double after winning the women's 5 000m race two days earlier. Experienced distance runner Jerry Motsau (ACNW) won the men's 5 000m race in 13:36.10. In field events, Colette Uys (AGN) was the standout performer, winning gold in the women's shot put with a 16.87m heave to close out her tremendously successful campaign. Earlier in the week, Uys had also won the discus throw and secured silver in the hammer throw. Tshepang Makhethe (AFS) won the men's hammer throw with a best attempt of 68.86m, while Danielle Nolte (AGN) took the women's long jump with a 6.49m leap. Thato Kgala (CGA) earned the men's triple jump title after landing at 15.60m, and Ansume de Beer, representing host province Boland Athletics, cleared 4.20m to win the women's pole vault. "It was a brilliant championship that did not fail to impress or live to expectations," stated John Mathane, the Deputy President and Acting President ofAthletics South Africa. "Not even two days of weather that interrupted with high winds and heavy rain could stop the show from going on. The spirits remained up led by two of the best enthusiast athletics commentators of the land in Thabo Malete and Altus Schreuder. "We congratulate all competitors whether they reached the podium or not, we also shower our ASA province Boland Athletics with top accolades, for hosting a successfull championship. We express our appreciation to the Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch Municipality, Councillor Jeremy Fasser for gracing us with his visit. The local organising committee has had sleepless nights to ensure that this was put together and executed. Ultimately, we also thank God for His travel mercies of our teams and supporters back home." Like our pages Facebook: 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.