Masters Middle Distance Runners Tops in the World (Part 1)

http://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=l8slSNfK_5E&ns=1&feature=vm
(video footage: courtesy Philip Rudd)

 Some of the most exciting middle distance races at World Masters Athletics Championships have been produced by South African Athletes.

 Female Middle Distance running was pioneered by Anne McKenzie in the mid-Sixties and since then South African ladies have ranked amongst the top athletes in the 800m in the world.  Elaine Pretorius has excelled in the 400 and 800m in two World Masters Championships taking titles in both events in the Womens 45 and 50 age groups.   Video footage shows her winning the Womens 45 Age Group 800m Final at the 2007 Championships with a brilliant finish in a time of  2.19,51, just short of the national record of 2.19,2 at that the time.   Elaine holds several S.A. 400m age group records.


Elaine (52) has moved up to the W.50 age group, but Salome Vermeulen (46), who recently bettered this record with a time of 2.17, 93 is a worthy successor and is expected to bring home the medals in the 800 and 1500m events from the World Championships to be held in October in Brazil this year.

Salome leads in the 1500m.

The legendary Anne McKenzie




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