The multi-talented former Lomagundi College schoolgirl ran home in a time of 17.8 seconds to claim gold in 100m hurdles, while similar medals came from triple jump and a 2.20 m jump in pole vault.
She settled for silver medals in high and long jump. The athlete was the country’s best 100m women hurdles runner with a time of 15.42 seconds until four years ago when sprinter Tamla Pietersen smashed her record after clocking 14.49 seconds.
Odendaal, who represented Zimbabwe at the 1999 Africa Junior Championships in Tunisia at the age of 18, however, is still the women record holder in pole vault in Zimbabwe after soaring 2.60 m 12 years ago.
She feels she still has a bright future in athletics. “I am not thinking of retiring as yet because I feel I still have the energy to do much better. My aim is simply to fully concentrate and do well in all the races I participate in especially the international races I compete in,” Odendaal said.
Her biggest competition is next year’s World Masters Track and Field Championships to be held in Porto Alegre in Brazil where she will contest in pole vault and heptathlon.
