The Free State laser run championship took place at Sangiro Lodge on 19 February. Athletes competed in age groups ranging from U9 to 40 years and older.
Heavy rain overnight had cleared by the time the competition started, leaving the cross-country course pleasantly soft to run on.
The targets for the laser pistol shooting were mounted on eight hand-made, custom-designed target stands, carefully crafted by Dewald van Rooyen, one of the Free State laser run parents, athlete and event organiser.
Laser run is a development sport of modern pentathlon, and involves running an age-appropriate cross-country distance, followed by shooting at a target with a laser pistol. Only when five successive “hits” with the laser light at the target centre are registered, may the athlete continue with the running section. A full modern pentathlon competition also included swimming, fencing and show-jumping.
The U9 athletes run 2 laps of 300 m, with the laser target set at 5 m, while the 18-year-old to 40-year-old athletes run 5 laps of 600 m, interspersed with 4 shooting series involving a target distance of 10 m.
Boys’ medal winners
- U9: Waldo van Rooyen (gold) and Divan Potgieter (silver) of Grey College.
- U11: Marnu Uys (gold), Waldo Bosch (silver) and Wian Wagenaar (bronze) all of Grey. The boys’ U11 event provided a dramatic finish, with only one second between the medal winners.
- U15: Reynaldo Uys (gold), Jannes Krause (silver) – both of Grey College – and Cayden Potgieter of the St Andrew School (bronze). Cayden held off a strong finish from the fourth-placed athlete who came fourth by one second.
- U17: Hanru Krause (gold) of Grey College.
In the masters 40 plus division Dewald van Rooyen received gold.
Girls’ medal winners
- U11: Munay Uys of Meisieskool Oranje (gold), Chélyn Parkin of Eunice Primary School (silver) and Kriselie Potgieter of Oranje (bronze).
- U13: Ellé Cloete of Oranje (gold).
- U15: Mika-Leigh Strydom (gold) and Camilyn Parkin (silver) – both of Eunice – Danny Pienaar (bronze);
- U17: Ezeth Esterhuizen (gold) and Lané van Rooyen (silver), both of Hoër Meisieskool Oranje.
- U19: Danielle Joubert (gold) all of Hoër Meisieskool Oranje.
In the masters 40 plus division Lena van Rooyen received gold, Leana Esterhuizen silver and Lizette Krause bronze.
These athletes are eligible for selection to represent the Free State in the South African championship, and may progress to a world championship to be held at an overseas location later this year.
Direct enquiries about the sport to info@fsmpa.co.za.
