Mondray Barnard, the Eastern Province 110m hurdler from Gqeberha, produced a breakthrough European campaign that culminated in a legal personal best of 13.19 seconds and a run of international wins that have pushed him into South Africa’s conversation among leading sprint hurdlers.
PB in Troyes caps a consistent tour
Barnard entered his European programme already holding the Eastern Province Athletics record of 13.44s in the 110m hurdles. Across meetings in France, Spain, Finland, Switzerland, Israel and Malta he repeatedly tested himself against quality opposition and came away with a series of strong results; the standout came on 28 June in Troyes, France, where he won in 13.19s with a legal +1.7 m/s following wind. That performance is officially recorded by World Athletics and represents a sizable improvement on the 13.44 mark with which he began the tour.
In Troyes Barnard also defeated fellow South African and former African champion Antonio Alkana, underlining the depth of the result and the competitive level of the field.
Wins and form across multiple meetings
Victory in Troyes was the high point of a tour notable for its consistency. Barnard opened his series of wins at the EAP Malta International, taking the 110m hurdles in 13.71s despite running into a -0.5 m/s headwind. In Jerusalem he set a meeting record with a legal heat of 13.45s (+1.5 m/s) and followed by clocking 13.39s in the final, although that final was assisted by a +2.6 m/s wind and therefore wind-aided for record purposes.
At the Ordizia Meeting in Spain Barnard ran 13.27s in his heat before taking the final in 13.24s. He later added another international victory in Tampere, Finland, stopping the clock at 13.30s. The campaign also included a notable win in Luzern, Switzerland, one of the tour’s more eye-catching results.
- Held Eastern Province record of 13.44s before Europe trip
- Set legal PB of 13.19s in Troyes on 28 June (+1.7 m/s)
- Multiple wins: Malta, Troyes, Ordizia, Tampere and performances in Jerusalem and Luzern
| Meeting | Result | Wind | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAP Malta International | 13.71s | -0.5 m/s | Victory into headwind |
| Jerusalem (heat) | 13.45s | +1.5 m/s | Meeting record (heat) |
| Jerusalem (final) | 13.39s | +2.6 m/s | Wind-assisted (bronze) |
| Ordizia, Spain (heat) | 13.27s | — | Heat win |
| Ordizia, Spain (final) | 13.24s | — | Victory |
| Tampere, Finland | 13.30s | — | Victory |
| Troyes, France | 13.19s | +1.7 m/s | Legal PB; World Athletics result |
The steady string of sub-13.40 performances across different conditions — and against rival hurdlers of note — suggests Barnard’s European stint was more than a purple patch. Consistency, rather than a single flash, is what has marked his progress on the trip.
For Eastern Province athletics the campaign reaffirms the region’s production line of sprint hurdlers and gives South African hurdling yet another athlete making his mark on the continental circuit. The official World Athletics recognition of the 13.19s run in Troyes provides a clear, verifiable benchmark for Barnard to build on when he returns to domestic competition.
On form such as this, selectors, coaches and opponents will be watching. For a Gqeberha athlete who began the tour holding a provincial record, the European campaign has delivered both improved times and tangible wins against strong opposition. That combination is the measured currency of progress in athletics: PBs, trophies and the confidence that comes from consistently performing when it matters.
It’s a satisfying turn in a season that has seen Barnard shift from provincial standout to an athlete comfortably competing — and winning — on the international stage.
