Athens - Alwyn Myburgh emerged as the pick of the South African 400m hurdles crop when he edged defending Olympic champion Angelo Taylor and runner-up Hadi soua an al Somaily out of the Athens Olympic finals in a nailbiting semi-final at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.
"Oh man, I just can't believe this," said a jubilant Myburgh after his third behind favourites Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic and Marek Plawgo (Poland) in a season's best 48.21sec before a sell-out 70 000 crowd.
With the first two semi-finalists going through to Thursday's final along with the two fastest followers in the three races, the prospect of an historic Olympic first was left on tenterhooks with Myburgh's third.
Then Llewellyn Herbert, the bronze-medal winner at Sydney 2000, struggled from start to finish for fifth in his heat in 48.57sec against the 48.00 by winner Danny McFarlane of Jamaica and all hope of an historical final faded.
Tightest finish up-front
Ockert Cilliers tried his best to bring some fire into the tail in the third race, but he took strain down the main straight for a 49.01 sixth against the 48.18sec set by James Carter of the US up front.
His was the tightest finish up-front and the photo finish separated second-placed Bayano Kamani, Naman Keita and Kemel Thompson at 100th of a second each, it looked like Myburgh wouldn't make it through.
Then the screen flashed Myburgh's 48.21 as the seventh fastest finisher and he was ecstatic to be in.
"I've achieved my first goal and I'm in. I'm really so happy. It's my season's best.
"I was pushing hard for second tonight, but because I was racing hard, I sacrificed some technique.
"If I can put together relaxing and going over the hurdles with the technique of the heats on Monday night, and bring it together with the speed of tonight, then I reckon I can run a fast time here on Thursday night."
'I've paid the price'
A disappointed Herbert lacked fluidity over the hurdles and had none of his usual sting at the finish.
"I promise you," he said. "This is the last time I don't make it into a final.
"My time was not bad, but it wasn't good enough. I did my best."
Cilliers was up there around the second bend, then fell back over the final two hurdles.
"I went out too fast in the first 200m," said Cilliers afterwards. "I paid the price. But I'm the youngster here and I've learned a lot."
