RISING South African roadrunning star Lusapho April’s dream of winning his first global competition medal in Moscow on August 17 is over.
The Eastern Cape runner has been forced to pull out of Team South Africa going to the IAAF World Championship after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury.
April was spearheading the marathon team, which included the legendary Hendrick Ramaala and Sibusiso Nzima – one of the future stars of South African roadrunning.
“I’m devastated,” said April. “It’s all over for me going to the World Championship. I got injured in the Eastern Cape at training last Thursday,” said the Uitenhage runner.
His coach, Karen Zimmerman said that April’s injury “comes and goes”.
“We are of course disappointed that Lusapho will not be going to Russia. His heel injury flared up before this year’s Hannover Marathon but Lusapho rested it and did some light training and then went on to win the race.
“In 2009 and 2010, just before the Frankfurt Marathons, the same thing happened. Unfortunately with him representing South Africa, I had to withdraw him,” said Zimmerman.
Continued April: “I was hoping for a miracle but I’ve been advised by the medical personnel to give it a miss.
“My plan was to win a medal and use the World Championship to officially announce my arrival on the global stage. I have accepted the medical advice and will be taking it easy to allow the injury to heal.
“In life when one door closes, many others will open in front of you.
“The bigger picture after the Moscow championship for me will be the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics,” said April, who finished 43rd overall during the 2012 London Olympics.
“We have an experienced runner in Ramaala capable of coming back with something from Russia, for Sibusiso it will be about getting international experience. Sibusiso has done well at junior level .”
April qualified for the World Championship after clocking a career-best time of 2:08:32 to win the Hannover Marathon in Germany in May.
The 30-year-old athlete bettered the marathon’s course record of 2:08:52 which was set by Kenyan Yussuf Sangoka.
It was April’s second Hannover Marathon victory after winning the event in 2011 in a time of 2:09:25 – his first overseas victory.
April’s big Moscow bid heartbreak
The Eastern Cape runner has been forced to pull out of Team South Africa going to the IAAF World Championship after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury.
April was spearheading the marathon team, which included the legendary Hendrick Ramaala and Sibusiso Nzima – one of the future stars of South African roadrunning.
“I’m devastated,” said April. “It’s all over for me going to the World Championship. I got injured in the Eastern Cape at training last Thursday,” said the Uitenhage runner.
His coach, Karen Zimmerman said that April’s injury “comes and goes”.
“We are of course disappointed that Lusapho will not be going to Russia. His heel injury flared up before this year’s Hannover Marathon but Lusapho rested it and did some light training and then went on to win the race.
“In 2009 and 2010, just before the Frankfurt Marathons, the same thing happened. Unfortunately with him representing South Africa, I had to withdraw him,” said Zimmerman.
Continued April: “I was hoping for a miracle but I’ve been advised by the medical personnel to give it a miss.
“My plan was to win a medal and use the World Championship to officially announce my arrival on the global stage. I have accepted the medical advice and will be taking it easy to allow the injury to heal.
“In life when one door closes, many others will open in front of you.
“The bigger picture after the Moscow championship for me will be the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics,” said April, who finished 43rd overall during the 2012 London Olympics.
“We have an experienced runner in Ramaala capable of coming back with something from Russia, for Sibusiso it will be about getting international experience. Sibusiso has done well at junior level .”
April qualified for the World Championship after clocking a career-best time of 2:08:32 to win the Hannover Marathon in Germany in May.
The 30-year-old athlete bettered the marathon’s course record of 2:08:52 which was set by Kenyan Yussuf Sangoka.
It was April’s second Hannover Marathon victory after winning the event in 2011 in a time of 2:09:25 – his first overseas victory.
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