Leandri Geel breaks national hammer throwing record with mammoth distance at Grand Prix
Inclement weather did not deter Leandri Geel as she broke the national women’s hammer throw record last week with a mammoth effort during the second leg of the ASA Grand Prix Series in South Africa. The 25-year-old’s remarkable hammer throw of 66.11 metres broke US-based Phethisang Makhethe’s previous national record (set last year) of 65.8 […]
Inclement weather did not deter Leandri Geel as she broke the national women’s hammer throw record last week with a mammoth effort during the second leg of the ASA Grand Prix Series in South Africa.
The 25-year-old’s remarkable hammer throw of 66.11 metres broke US-based Phethisang Makhethe’s previous national record (set last year) of 65.8 metres by 31 centimetres!
Leandri is a student from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), where she studies the human anatomy and physiology.
“It feels very amazing,” she said after her huge win. “I wasn’t prepared, but it just worked out. I’m very glad, very relieved.”
She admitted she just wanted to go to sleep after the record throwing feat. “It was a lot of pressure but it went away when I broke the record.”
Leandri is working with her coach to achieve international hammer throwing wins.
Leandri Geel is the new South African record holder in the Women's Hammer Throw with a mammoth 66.11m 👏 pic.twitter.com/mYIXx17NeA
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 19, 2023
Meanwhile, African champions Sokwakhana Zazini and Zeney van der Walt made light work of the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles.
Denting his time after clashing with three hurdles, Zazini fought back to win in 49.54 seconds, seeing off Botswana’s Kemorena Tisang, who ran a 49.62, while Van der Walt comfortably won her race in 55.28 seconds, almost two seconds clear of Taylon Bieldt, who placed second.
Sources: TeamSA and SuperSport