Already one of South Africa’s most promising young athletes, Matodzi Ndou made an explosive statement on Wednesday by obliterating the national youth record in the 110m hurdles and running the second quickest time in history in his age group.
Representing host school Curro Hazeldean in the boys’ U-17 race at the Curro Podium North track and field meeting at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria, Ndou sliced his way over the barriers and stormed over the line in 12.98 seconds.
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Ndou climbed to third place in the all-time world rankings, just 0.11 behind the world youth record of 12.87 set by Australian athlete Sasha Zhoya in 2019.
He chopped 0.12 off the SA youth record of 13.10 which was set by Naeem Jack at the national championships in Pretoria earlier this year.
SA record tumbles
It was the fourth time this year the national U17 record was broken in the 110m hurdles, and on all four occasions the new marks were set on the same Pilditch track.
Ndou broke the record in February when he clocked 13.21 at the Curro Podium final, and he bettered his own time by winning the provincial youth title in 13.15 at the AGN Championships in March.
And Jack went even quicker, stopping the clock at 13.10 at the ASA Championships in July, holding off a challenge from Ndou to win the national title.
Ndou and Jack will step up to the junior age group next year.
