| October 04, 2008 |
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 Young swimming star set for Commonwealth Games Jenni Marsh WEEKEND POST REPORTER marshj@avusa.co.za TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Nelson Mandela Bay swimming sensation Jessica Liss will be flying the flag for South Africa at the Commonwealth Games starting in India next weekend. South Africa‘s fastest 200m breaststroke swimmer, Jessica, who has a twin sister Sarah, is looking to add to her already heaving trophy cabinet as part of the South African under-18 team. Jessica will compete in the 200m, 100m and individual medley races and is the only Eastern Cape swimmer to take part in the Games, which start next Sunday. Also representing the Eastern Cape are boxer Xolani Mpushe, and Grey High School tennis ace David Fisher. But before Jessica jets off to Pune, near Mumbai, on Monday, she will attend the Swimming South Africa Awards in Johannesburg tonight, where she has been nominated for the Most Promising Athlete of the Year award. The other nominees, Jessica Pengelly, 17, and Kathryn Meaklim, 19, both competed in the Beijing Olympics. Her father, Jonathan, principal of St George‘s Preparatory School which she attends, said Jessica first showed potential in the pool at the age of eight, when she made the Eastern Province team. Since then, Jessica has joined the Karoly Swimming Academy and has been powering up and down pools around the country, all while still excelling in her schoolwork. Mum Colleen, who is a teacher at St Mark‘s Community School in the Bay, still holds the 100m butterfly Eastern Province record, set as a 14-year-old. Jessica, who has broken 25 South African records, missed out on being the youngest athlete to compete in the Beijing Olympic Games by 0,3 seconds earlier this year. “I was disappointed ... but now I‘m really going for the 2012 (Games) in London. That‘s my goal.” The Commonwealth Games end on October 18. Jessica takes part on the 15th, 16th and 17th.
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Health minister brings new hope HOW refreshing it is to finally have a health minister who actually appears to understand the challenges facing South Africa. This week, for the first time since she was appointed after a cabinet reshuffle, Barbara Hogan spoke publicly about some of the hurdles that face her department . She has vowed to “get things right” in providing Aids treatment, and her work will certainly be cut out for her following the damage caused by her predecessor, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who amongst other oddities touted beetroot, African potatoes and other vegetables as a cure-all for HIV.... 
Ultimate thrill possible for wannabe wheelie experts Brett Adkins COME on, admit it. If you‘ve ever seen a really fired-up biker perform a tar-tearing, gravity-defying wheelie in front of you, you must have wondered what the sensation is like – and then quickly dismissed the thought because of the all too obvious risk factor.But take all danger (and illegality) out of the equation and it probably becomes a lot more tempting.... 
Bay United will hope to cement their position with good win over Stars Chumani Bambani WEEKEND POST REPORTER BAY United will face yet another baptism of fire when they meet Free State Stars at the Welkom Rugby Stadium tomorrow.... 
North End set to become ‘new economic node‘ Sipho Masondo BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT masondos@avusa.co.zaTHANKS to the R1,5-billion 2010 stadium, a new economic node is emerging in North End which could transform the area into a vibrant residential and business hub.... 
Not quite Vegas but still pretty great THE VEGAS SUPERSTARS, featuring Danny Fisher and the Centrestage All-Star Band. (Boardwalk Vodacom Amphitheatre, tonight and Wednesday to Saturday at 7.30pm): WITH not quite the oomph of some of the successful Centrestage productions that have preceded it – probably because of the highly eclectic mix of the artists and material it salutes – this nod to some of the world‘s great showbiz performers is nevertheless solid entertainment.... |
