Ramaala On Brink Of History

South African athlete and 10 000m record holder Hendrick Ramaala made history when he ran the qualifying time which could see him compete in his 5th Olympic Games when he finished the Dubai Marathon in 2:12:22. He now joins a handful of athletes queuing in the selection line.

Finishing 19th overall, his time was just over 2 minutes slower than his goal time of 2:10:00, but more importantly is nearly 3 minutes faster than the IAAF A Standard for the Olympics.

Ramaala though is not guaranteed a spot on team as his time is currently the 4th fastest of the qualifiers, and at this stage SASCOC will be looking to send only three athletes.

Athlete, Qualifying Time, Where Qualified, Date Qualified

Men

Steven Mokoka, 2:10:29, Toray Shanghai, 4 December 2011
Coolboy Ngamole, 2:10:43, Valencia, November 2011
Lusapho April, 2:11:09 , Frankfurt, October 2011
Hendrick Ramaala, 2:12:22, Dubai, 27 January 2012
Othaniel Phahlane, 2:14:55, Mumbai, 15 January 2012

Women

René Kalmer, 2:29:59 (2:37:00), Yokohama, 20 November 2011

Ramaala ran the Berlin Marathon at the end of September 2011 finished 10th in (2:16:00).

Currently only Rene Kalmer has fulfilled the qualification criteria for the women with her 5th place in Yokohama on 20 November, 2011. Kalmer’s 2:29;59 is not only a massive PB but she becomes only the 4th women in South African road running history to break the 2:30 barrier in the marathon behind Elana Meyer, Colleen de Reuck and Frith van der Merwe.

For more information on selection criteria and qualifying standards see these SASCOC and IAAF links below:
http://hp.sascoc.co.za/files/2011/06/Athletics-OG.pdf
http://iaaf.org/Mini/oly12/Standards/Standards.aspx

The Dubai Marathon was won by Ethiopia’s Ayele Abshero in 2:04:23.  The first 14 places all finished under 2:08:00.
Men
1. Ayele Abshero, Ethiopia, 2:04:23
2. Dino Sefir Kemal, Ethiopia, 2:04:50
3. Markos Geneti, Ethiopia, 2:04:54
4. Jonathan Maiyo, Kenya, 2:04:56
5. Tadesse Tola, Ethiopia, 2:05:10
6. Yami Dadi, Ethiopia, 2:05:41
7. Abdullah Shami Dawit, Ethiopia, 2:05:42
8. Deressa Chimsa Edea, Ethiopia, 2:05:42
9. Seboka Tola, Ethiopia, 2:067:17
10.Yemane Adhane, Ethiopia, 2:06:29

19. Hendrik Ramaala, South Africa 2:12:22