Athens - Hurdlers Llewellyn Herbert, Alwyn Myburgh and Ockert Cilliers raced like stallions on the mercurial Olympic Stadium track on Monday night.
Now they are champing at the bit to make Olympic history and become the first trio from the same nation to make a final in the 400m hurdles.
"We're over the first hurdle, now the focus is on the semi-finals tomorrow and if things fall into place, we make history on Thursday," said Myburgh after racing with intelligence and in relaxed mode for second against a cocky and posing Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in Monday's qualifying heat.
Myburgh hurdled 48,84 seconds for his second spot, Herbert weathered the toughest race of the heats for fourth in 48,70 and Cilliers was solid in his 49,12 for third in his heat.
All three were reserved in looking ahead, but smiling broadly at the manner in which they went through.
"I wasn't that happy with my position, I would have liked to have won my heat," said Herbert, who recently got engaged and spoke with humility that was totally in contrast to his upbeat attitude when he won bronze in Sydney 2000.
"But I was happy with my time. Now it's one step at a time. The semi-finals tomorrow, then we hope and pray that things fall into place in the semis so we can have three South Africans in the final on Thursday. That would be 'voes'!"
Herbert, whose personal best is the SA record 47,81 and whose Olympic qualifier this year was 48,03, was philosophical about the next two days. "Anybody going into the semis will fight for a place in the final. Then anything can happen. I felt okay out there. The heat got to me a bit, though."
Cilliers did more than enough to qualify in his heat. "My first aim here has been achieved. We're halfway there to make Olympic history and to have three South Africans race the final."
The trio made it clear that there is a superb spirit between them. "I've been helped by Llewellyn and Alwyn who've both been to Olympics and I've been given good advice that helped tonight.
"We are very tight as buddies, but on the track we all know that it's every man for himself."
Myburgh had the toughest draw against Sanchez, whose unbeaten run in the hurdles this season has made him the favourite against defending Olympic champion Angelo Taylor of America, who won his heat in style.
But Myburgh was cool in the intense heat. Running relaxed, he picked up his pace coming round the bend, then came up on Sanchez, giving him a challenging glance in a nonchalant manner as the livewire took the race in 48,51, then waved with his fingers to show the crowd that for him it was plain sailing.
"I'm not phased by him," said Myburgh. "He's just a person. We South Africans could give him a go. I started relaxed and knew I could move in on him around the second bend."
