By Chris Dlamini
The country’s fastest woman, Bongiwe ‘Smolly’ Mahlalela, attained gold on Saturday in the AGN Track and Field League 7 at Pilditch, South Africa in Pretoria.
Mahlalela, who is based in South Africa and runs for Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Athletics, was position one in the 100m heat.
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She did not just win the race but also hit her second fastest time this season at 11:75 seconds. Mahlalela had started the heat quite slowly and looked to be falling behind until just before they reached halfway where she started striding her way through and past the two athletes in front of her to reach the finish line on a stroll.
The second athlete, La Grange Kayla from South Africa, crossed the line after 11.84 seconds.
Meanwhile, Mahlalela had run a time of 11:74 seconds when she defended her 100m national title in the National Championships last month at Mavuso Sports Centre.
She is hopeful of making the Olympics scheduled for July to August in Paris this year, either through qualification or the universality spot.
The Olympic Games qualifying time for 100m is 11:08 seconds for ladies, and her closest to it so far has been 11:53 seconds other than this year’s two fastest times.
She also confided that the race was also recognised as an Olypmic qualifier. It also comprised athletes from other countries in the region like Malawi, Lesotho, and Botswana.
“We are competing on June 21 and they said we are leaving on June 19 but I doubt as we would be fatigued for the race,” she said when quizzed about when she would be leaving for the African Athletics Championship.
Mahlalela, along with sprinters Sibusiso ‘Swazi Bolt’ Matsenjwa and Thandaza Zwane, will be competing to qualify for the Olympics in the Cameroon from June 15 to June 25 in Douala.