MICHAEL FINCH, Johannesburg | Wednesday 10.30am.
WORLD indoor 800m champion, Johan Botha, almost ruined a near perfect evening for South Africa on the first night of the athletics events at the 7th All Africa Games on Tuesday.
As the country took an early lead with four gold medals, two silvers and a bronze, Botha nearly missed out on making it through to the semi-finals of the 800m — the most competitive event at the Games.
Running in heat three, the man ranked fifth in the world this year, seemingly took control of the race as they entered the final straight.
Needing just to finish among the top three, Botha began to ease up down the final straight, but that’s when all the trouble started.
The rest of the field quickly closed in on him and as they reached the final 10m, suddenly Botha looked in danger of finishing fourth.
Television replays showed that Botha had seemingly strong-armed his way past Ethiopian Birhanu Alemo, but no appeal was lodged and Botha will contest Wednesday’s semi-final.
Phew!
World Championships silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng won his heat but complained afterwards of sore hamstrings — the result of having his back stuck in one position during his flight from Europe on Monday night.
With world championships silver medallist Japhet Kimutai also an easy winner, Wednesday’s night’s final is shaping up to be the best event of the track and field section.
As expected, South Africa completely dominated the field events winning the women’s javelin courtesy of Liezel Roux and the men’s hammerthrow after an impressive performance from the continent’s record holder, Chris Harmse.
As if that wasn’t enough, Burger Lambrechts, Janus Robberts and Karel Potgieter filled the top three respectively in the men’s shot put while Rika Erasmus caused a mini upset in a two-girl women’s polevault event to take gold over Commonwealth Games silver medallist Elmarie Gerryts.
There was also success, but no medal for the netball girls who jetted out for the World Championships in New Zealand on Tuesday night after beating Malawi in their final game 74-35.
The event doesn’t have official medal status but it was the ideal warm-up for a team who will be defending their world championship silver medal they won four years ago.
In gymnastics, the ongoing battle between the Egyptians and the hosts continued as the South African women won two gold, two silver and one bronze during the apparatus finals, and the men one gold, four silvers and a bronze.
Tamaryn Schultz was the most successful of the girls, winning gold in the uneven bars, silver in the floor and bronze on the balance beam. Caroline Demitriou took the title in the balance beam.
Among the men, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Simon Hutcheon lived up to his reputation as one of the world’s best vaulters to win that discipline, while Zoltan Erdy (pommel horse), Athol Myhill (rings), Hutcheon (floor) and Dewald Laubscher (parallel bars) took silver. Christain Brezeanu took the bronze in the vault.
It was also a successful night for the wrestlers (men that is!) with Piet Bezuidenhout taking silver in the 85kg class, Juan Nel bronze in the 69kg class and Gerald Vollenhoven bronze in the 130kg class.
South Africa now lie third on the medal table with Nigeria still clear on the gold medal count, followed by Egypt.
That should change on Wednesday when the swimming events resume and South Africa pick up the gold medal charge. — MWP