2009 SU Update: African and Commonwealth Champion Claims Gold at Universiade

 Coach Jerome Walters (left), Lungisa Mdedelwa, coach
Mlungisi Mnyengeza and Mzazi Sibabalwe posing for a picture after Team South Africa won their first medals at the 25th SU on Wednesday night. Sibabalwe won a gold medal in the 10,000m final, with Mdede

Commonwealth Javelin Champion Sunette Viljoen has won South Africa’s second gold medal at the 25th Universiade in Belgrade, bringing to three the number of medals won by the country.

The 25-year-old Viljoen, who is off to Berlin, Germany, for the IAAF World Championships next month, clinched the title with a throw of 62.52m on Thursday night.

Viljoen is also the African champion and record holder.

Sibabalwe Mzazi grabbed South Africa’s first gold medal in the men’s 10,000m final on Tuesday night, while compatriot Lungisa Mdedelwa got bronze in the same event.

Viljoen, another product from the well-known javelin stable of coach Terseus Liebenberg, took the lead with her opening throw of 62.25m and never looked back.

The South African finally surprised with a throw of 65.43m to shatter the previous continental mark of 63.49M set by her compatriot Justine Robbeson a year ago. For Viljoen, it was a massive personal best, more than three meters better her previous career best of 62.24m from last year, and also the fourth farthest throw this year.

‘It feels great to win a medal, especially gold in a global competition. I have enjoyed my stay here in Serbia in the past two weeks’, said an excited Viljoen. ‘I’m gonna take a few days break to recharge my batteries for the World Championships in Germany. The plan is to continue doing well, but it is a known fact that competition will be tough because all the big guns will be there.’ – Ramatsiyi Moholoa

South Africa’s Sunette Viljoen throwing to gold