With sights set on Budapest23, Fourie hopes to see more women hurdlers competing
The world's number 10 hurdler Marione Fourie sliced 0.21s off the formidable 12.76s SA mark - which was set by Tayon Bieldt earlier in July.
South African hurdler Marione Fourie. Picture: marionefourie/Instagram.
JOHANNESBURG – South African hurdler Marione Fourie smashed the national women's 100m hurdles record in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, just over a month until the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
The athlete from Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, secured victory in 12.55s, with Maayde Tjin-A-Lim of Holland, coming second in a 12.66s personal best, and Lotta Harala of Finland third in 12.85s - also a personal best.
The 21-year-old who is currently travelling told Eyewitness News that the her feat is a great deal for her.
The countdown to the World Athletics Championships 2023 has already begun.
“I was in grade 4 when I was invited to go and train at a coach and then only after a few months of training, I had my first nationals and then came 2nd,” said Fourie of her beginning in the discipline.
The athlete sliced 0.21s off the formidable 12.76s SA mark - which was set by Tayon Bieldt earlier in July.
“I do not do anything - in particular - ahead of a race. I just focus on my race,” said Fourie.
The time doesn’t only earn Fourie automatic qualification to the world championships in Budapest in August and the 2024 Paris Olympics, but it also places her 10th on the world list so far for 2023.
“I would like to see women getting the support they need and improving the sport to the next level.”
HOW ATHLETES CAN QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
According to Olympics.com athletes have three ways to qualify for the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest.
The most straightforward method is to meet the World Athletics Championships qualifying standards during any recognised World Athletics event within the specified qualification window. It gives athletes a direct entry to the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
Athletes can also qualify through their world rankings positions at the end of the qualification period. The number of slots available through rankings depends on the number of athletes who qualified directly.
The third way to qualify is through finishing positions at particular athletics events. For example, reigning area champions or continental champions in most individual events become eligible to compete at Budapest23.