Three SA athletes into finals

2008-08-16 18:24

Beijing - On the day Usain Bolt left 91 000 spectators awe-struck when he literally walked away with the gold medal and 100m world record in 9.69 seconds, three South African athletes secured places in their finals in the hurdles, long jump and 3 l000m steeplechase.

LJ van Zyl and Ter de Villiers went in the first of the 400m hurdle semi-finals which included 2005 World Champion Bershawn Jackson and fellow American Angela Taylor.

Van Zyl was just off the pace in second behind Taylor going through the first 200. As they cleared the final hurdle his position in the final was secure and between his reduction of power and Jackson's controlled drive Van Zyl faded to third in 48.57s.

"I got my position I just kept it there and tapped off a bit at the end to save a bit for Monday," said the Tukkies athlete. "You can be too confident and not confident enough and I have two days to find out where is the midpoint. We need to go below 48s or a medal is not possible otherwise the Americans will kill us."

Despite being one of the first from the blocks de Villiers was unable to increase the power and had to settle for seventh position in 49.44s, 0.2s slower than Friday's qualifier.

"It was amazing to compete but I didn't do what I wanted to do so I'm a bit disappointed. It's amazing you're racing with 80 000 people cheering you on, there are flashes everywhere. It's a hell of a privilege just to be here," said De Villiers. "There was nothing I can say went wrong, it (my performance) just wasn't good enough in this competition on the day."

The third South African hurdler to make it into the semifinals, Alwyn Myburgh, was drawn against world number one Kerron Clement and the Jamaican duo of Danny Mcfarlane and Markino Buckley ranked five and nine respectively this season. The 2004 Olympic finalist, who was disadvantaged by the outside lane draw, was unable to hold his position coming off the bend as Greek Perikilis Lakovakis drew past him in the final 70m to take fourth and the last qualifying position. Myburgh was clocked at 49.16.

"It didn't live up to what I wanted," said Myburgh. "I'm disappointed. I went all out I gave it my best and today I was just beaten by stronger athletes that's it," added Myburgh who spent the early part of the season honing his 200m speed, but had his build up interrupted by a pelvis injury. "I really started strong this year with a 200 in 24.1, with the injury you lose (training time), and that set me back and at Olympic Games you run against the best in the world, there's no room for weakness"

As the hurdle semis were being run, long jumper Khtoso Mokoena qualified through to Monday nights final with the fourth best performance of the night recording 8.14m on his final trial of the qualifying round.

With an opening leap of 8.03m in the first trial the World Indoor Champion looked to have the measure for the track speed, but he fouled the second trial overstepping the board by half a foot.

Ruben Ramolefi was the first athlete to make a final in Saturday morning's 3 000m steeplechase.

The Johannesburg student provide the best performance over the barriers by a South African since Whaddon Neiwoudt's all time best in 1992, but even more impressively it was front running from the gun to the line.

"The track is very fast it was forcing the guys to jump further, but we only get one day's rest so we had to pull back a bit," said the tall Johannesburger. "I think I got the feeling of the track today, but you can't base Monday on these jumps; it all starts over on Monday." Greek Louis Tstatoumas recorded the top distance of the day with his opening jump of 8.27metres.

Ruben Ramolefi ignored the 28 degree heat and led the third heat of 3 000m steeplechase out to go through the first kilometre in 2:49,62. The field that included Spain's Eliseo Martin, Moroccan Hamid Ezzine and Kenyan Kipkemboi Mateelong, all of whom have personal bests under 8:10, stayed intact on this rhythm until after the 2 000m mark.

As the pace took its toll the 30-year-old, who added a kick with 300m to go, kept both Mateelong and Ugaganda's Benjamin Kiplagat at bay. Clearing the final barrier with the Kenyan on his shoulder, Mokoena's final surge gave him the edge at the line to record eight minutes 19.86 seconds.

The time was a personal best and only 0.89s off Niewoudt's national record which has lasted 16 years.

"I believe that I can do the record," said a highly charged Ramolefi.

The Johannesburg based athlete had the eighth best time of the day behind Ethiopia's Yakob Jarso who won the second heat in 8:16.88, also setting a personal best. A tactical race would give the South African the best chance of a high finish in Monday's final (15:30 SA time)

Ending the morning athletics session Tsholofelo Thipe finished sixth in her 400m heat which was won by Jamaican Novelene Williams in 51.52s. Thipe recorded 54.11, over two seconds slower than her qualifier.

- SAPA