Okkert Brits dusts off his pole again

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.supersport.co.za/athletics/a ... %20Josephs

The men's pole vault turned out to be a long trip down memory lane for Paris World Championship gold medallist Okkert Britz, who literally dusted the more than two years of cobwebs off his fibreglass pole to win his umpteenth national title with a jump of 5.10 metres.

This for an athlete who is one of only four people who belong to the "over six metres" club.

"I only came here to win a medal for my new province Eastern Cape. I owe them one. The other reason was a couple of us old timers got together and decided to have a reunion, it was great to meet up and compete with Riaan (Botha) and Fanie (Jacobs) again."

Collectively they were the most successful South Africans ever with Brits heading the rankings with a 6.03 (1995) leap. Botha never ever made the elite "over six" club and had to settle for a 5.91 (1997) effort while Fanie Jacobs was considered the youngster of the trio having only recorded his 5.60 metre best jump in 2004.

For the record, Brits beat JG Blignaut from Athletics Gauteng North, who recorded a 4.80 metre jump with the bronze medal going to Johann du Plessis (Boland), who cleared the bar at 4.80 metres.

[slvr1969]

I have watched the South African Champs on tv. The standard is very very very low on all the events!!! All most all SA records is still standing since my hay days in the 80's