Salomé once was a local Teacher of the Week.
South Africa held its masters nationals over the weekend in Cape Town, and results
are posted here. I scrolled through fast and came across some impressive marks — basically anything over 90 percent age-graded. Two women stood out: W45
Adri Schoeman won the 100 and 200 in legal 12.62 and 25.64. And W50
Salomé Vermeulen won the 800 in 2:21.84 and 1500 in 4:56.41. On the men’s side, M45
Marius Basson took the 400 in 52.44, and M45
Joe Viljoen claimed the 8 in 2:01.62. Also impressive was W45
Charmain Barnard, who took the 80-meter hurdles in 12.36. In a 2013 interview, Salomé told about being world 800 champ at Porto Alegre worlds: “Five days later I came second in the 1500. When I got back to school, I received a hero’s welcome. Waiting for me that morning was an honour guard comprised of the headmaster, Erhard Kruger, the staff and children, all waving little South African flags. I felt like a real world champion, satisfied and happy.”
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