“I have been battling with a back injury the past two seasons and it is most encouraging to start hitting form again in the year of the Commonwealth Games (in October in India),” said Elizna.

“With my injury something of the past, I am in awesome shape. In this regard I really owe a lot to Naat Loubser and my coach, Dup du Preez. Talk is cheap, however, and I will have to proof my intention to defend my Commonwealth title successfully with every throw I take till then.”

The other top Tuks performances at the AGN Championships were:

Susan Swanepoel (10 km race walk, 52:56.11; 985 points); Burger Lambrechts (SP, 8.98m; 956 and DT, 52.10m; 912); Roelie Potgieter (SP, 18.86m; 951); Orazio Cremona (SP, 18.73m, 944); Willem Voight (HJ, 2.15m, 896); Charles le Roux (TJ, 15.80m,; 886); Oscar Pistorius (400, 46.82; 873); Sikumbuzo Seme (3000 SC, 9:15.2; 863); Leon Verster (DT, 50.22m; 863).

• Elizna is one of 17 Tuks athletes who will take part in the first Yellow Pages meeting of the year. It takes place on Friday, 19 February in Port Elizabeth.

The Tuks team is:

Men: Isaak v Wyk, Thabo Mathibedi (100m/200m); Sikumbuzo Seme (3000 SC); Orazio Cremona, Roelie Potgieter, Burger Lambrechts (SP); Hardus Pienaar (JV).

Women: Christy Coetzee (100m/ LJ); Alet van Wyk, Wenda Theron (200m/400m); Eugenie Wicksell (400m); Honorata Saar (PV), Christine Kalmer (3000 SC); Monja Goosen (LJ); Elizna Naude, Maryke Oberholzer (DT); Myrette Filmalter (3000 SC).