The latest edition of the SA Athletics Annual, which has just been published, has a strong Olympic flavour in this year of the Summer Games in London. The year also marks the 100th anniversary of South Africa’s first victory in the Olympic Marathon. From a historical perspective, the extensively researched article on Kennedy Kane McArthur’s life and performances is the highlight of the 2012 SA Athletics Annual.
McArthur, who won the gold medal in Stockholm in 1912, was never beaten in a marathon. Many aspects of his life, such as his correct name, date of birth, and when he came to South Africa from his birthplace of Dervock, Northern Island, have always been clouded in uncertainty and half-truths. In his article, “Kennedy Kane McArthur: Invincible marathoner”, Riël Hauman confirms many facts about McArthur and brings to light other, hitherto unknown, facets of this brilliant runner’s life. It is the first time such a comprehensive article about the ex-postman from Dervock has been published in South Africa. A number of photographs of the 1912 Olympic Marathon and McArthur’s life outside athletics accompany the article.
The SA Athletics Statisticians (SAAS), publisher of the Annual, selected hurdler LJ van Zyl and javelin thrower Sunette Viljoen as Athletes of the Year for 2011.
Van Zyl also receives the Beinart Merit Award for 2011. The award, which commemorates the late Harry Beinart, a founder member and President of the SAAS, is made annually to the highest placed athlete on the world performance lists in an IAAF-recognised track event.
Van Zyl ran the world’s four fastest times in the 400 m hurdles in 2011, won the bronze medal at the World Championships in Daegu and anchored the 4 x 400 m relay team to a scintillating silver medal. He twice ran 47.66 – the world’s leading time – to set a national record.
Viljoen also won a bronze medal in Daegu, throwing a continental record of 68.38 m. She successfully defended her World University Games title and clinched second at the Weltklasse Meeting in Zurich. She placed fourth on the world list for the year.
Viljoen’s coach, Terseus Liebenberg, was selected as SAAS Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
The 60th edition of the Annual, one of the oldest national athletics annuals in the world, is again brimming with information about everything that happened on the athletics scene in South Africa and the rest of the world in 2011.
The Annual, the biggest since 2003, contains expanded all-time lists for track and field, while the annual lists for 2011 are also deeper than last year.
As usual, it also includes the Hall of Fame of the best of the best in the history of SA athletics; SA and all major international records; results of the most important local and international meetings; photographs of South Africa’s top athletes, and much more.
In other articles Richard Mayer looks at the successes of our athletes in Daegu and predicts that the country could win even more medals at the London Olympics, while Cobus Kok evaluates the standard of South African performances in 2010 and points out the improvement in men’s long distances and women’s middle distances.
In the introduction to the road running statistics the world-class performances of René Kalmer and Lindsay van Aswegen are highlighted. Kalmer ran 2:29:59 in the Yokohama Marathon – the fastest by a South African since 1999 – while Van Aswegen won the veterans category in the World 100 km Championships and placed third overall. On the men’s side Lusapho April led the marathon performance list with his 2:09:25 win in the Hannover Marathon.
Copies of the Annual can be ordered for R80 (postage included) from the following address: SA Athletics Annual, P.O. Box 7699, Halfway House 1685. When ordering books, full postal details must be given. Enquiries (also previous annuals) can be made at the following numbers: 082 85-666-55 or 082 800-6472 or 012 481-3696 (fax), or by e-mail from ckok@safcol.co.za.
McArthur, who won the gold medal in Stockholm in 1912, was never beaten in a marathon. Many aspects of his life, such as his correct name, date of birth, and when he came to South Africa from his birthplace of Dervock, Northern Island, have always been clouded in uncertainty and half-truths. In his article, “Kennedy Kane McArthur: Invincible marathoner”, Riël Hauman confirms many facts about McArthur and brings to light other, hitherto unknown, facets of this brilliant runner’s life. It is the first time such a comprehensive article about the ex-postman from Dervock has been published in South Africa. A number of photographs of the 1912 Olympic Marathon and McArthur’s life outside athletics accompany the article.
The SA Athletics Statisticians (SAAS), publisher of the Annual, selected hurdler LJ van Zyl and javelin thrower Sunette Viljoen as Athletes of the Year for 2011.
Van Zyl also receives the Beinart Merit Award for 2011. The award, which commemorates the late Harry Beinart, a founder member and President of the SAAS, is made annually to the highest placed athlete on the world performance lists in an IAAF-recognised track event.
Viljoen also won a bronze medal in Daegu, throwing a continental record of 68.38 m. She successfully defended her World University Games title and clinched second at the Weltklasse Meeting in Zurich. She placed fourth on the world list for the year.
Viljoen’s coach, Terseus Liebenberg, was selected as SAAS Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.
The 60th edition of the Annual, one of the oldest national athletics annuals in the world, is again brimming with information about everything that happened on the athletics scene in South Africa and the rest of the world in 2011.
The Annual, the biggest since 2003, contains expanded all-time lists for track and field, while the annual lists for 2011 are also deeper than last year.
As usual, it also includes the Hall of Fame of the best of the best in the history of SA athletics; SA and all major international records; results of the most important local and international meetings; photographs of South Africa’s top athletes, and much more.
In other articles Richard Mayer looks at the successes of our athletes in Daegu and predicts that the country could win even more medals at the London Olympics, while Cobus Kok evaluates the standard of South African performances in 2010 and points out the improvement in men’s long distances and women’s middle distances.
In the introduction to the road running statistics the world-class performances of René Kalmer and Lindsay van Aswegen are highlighted. Kalmer ran 2:29:59 in the Yokohama Marathon – the fastest by a South African since 1999 – while Van Aswegen won the veterans category in the World 100 km Championships and placed third overall. On the men’s side Lusapho April led the marathon performance list with his 2:09:25 win in the Hannover Marathon.
Copies of the Annual can be ordered for R80 (postage included) from the following address: SA Athletics Annual, P.O. Box 7699, Halfway House 1685. When ordering books, full postal details must be given. Enquiries (also previous annuals) can be made at the following numbers: 082 85-666-55 or 082 800-6472 or 012 481-3696 (fax), or by e-mail from ckok@safcol.co.za.