Twenty-two-year-old Louzanne Coetzee will be targeting the world record on Wednesday morning when she competes in the 5000m for the visually impaired at the Nedbank National Championship for the Physically Disabled.
Two-weeks ago Coetzee ran 30.92 seconds faster than the world record during the Free State Championships, however, the new world record time was not recorded due to the event not being officially sanctioned.
This has, however, not stopped Coetzee from targeting the world record and she told Courant that she now has the confidence to make the record official.
“It has given me confidence. I think we will run it again, I hope we will run it again soon to make it an official world record.”
On Monday night she broke the 1500m African record by some 8.77 seconds during the first day of competition.
“The more important one for me is the 1500m, because there is no 800m event for me at the Rio Games,” she added about her new African record on Monday.
“If I take the time I ran last night (Monday), I’ll be ranked sixth in the world on the 2015 rankings. The events are also on par with each other – I wish there was an 800m event in Rio – so unfortunately, I can’t run it.”
Coetzee added that running on her home track, the Mangaung Athletics Stadium, is a big advantage.
“It think it’s a good thing, because you’re able to stay in the usual routine of what you do and when you do it, so I think it’s a great advantage. Besides, the track is really awesome, I like this track.”
Nearly 400 athletes from across South Africa as well as Lesotho and Namibia have gathered in the City of Roses for the meet which is the last before the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in September. – MORGAN PIEK
