Jonny Shuping, a small South African schoolboy from Klerksdorp who will only turn 20 in September, recorded the biggest win so far of his career when he won the 800m at the 56th Venezelia International Athletics meeting in Chania, Greece, on Monday with a time of one minute and 47,31 seconds.
It was only his second race in Europe and he surprised the other athletes with his determined running and fine sprint over the last 100m.
Shuping, who won the bronze medal at the South African championships in Durban this year in a personal best of one minute and 47,09 seconds, beat an international field with Rizak Dirshe, of Sweden, Ramil Aritkulov of Russia and Britain’s Ricky Soos following him across the finish line.
Rene Kalmer, the South African 1 500m champion who is still hoping to qualify for the Olympic Games, had to settle for fifth place behind four of Romania’s best athletes in a race over 800m.
She covered the distance in two minutes and 6,2 seconds in a race won by Corina Dumbravean in two minutes and 3,19 seconds. — Sapa