Hurdlers Llewellyn Herbert, Alwyn Myburgh and Ockert Cilliers raced like stallions on the mercurial Olympic Stadium track on Monday night. Now they are chomping 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 semifinals tomorrow and if things fall into place, we make history on Thursday,” said Myburgh after racing with intelligence and in relaxed mode for second place against a cocky and posing Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic in Monday’s qualifying heat.
Frantz Kruger, the bronze-medal winner at Sydney 2000, struggled with his timing in the discus final and touched down with a 64,34m first throw for sixth, behind gold-medal winner Robert Fazekas of Hungary, who threw 70,93m. Kruger’s personal best is 70,32m. Hannes Hopley, the youngest in the field at 23, was chuffed with his 62,58m that earned him ninth place.
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.
Runners reserved
All three were reserved in looking ahead, but smiling broadly about 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 semifinals 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 woes!”
Herbert, whose personal best is the South African record of 47,81 seconds 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.”
Cilliers did more than enough to qualify in his heat.
”My first aim here has been achieved. We’re halfway there to have three South Africans race [in] the final.”
The trio made it clear that there is a superb spirit among 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.”
That much Kelly Holmes showed when she dethroned Maria Mutola, her partner with whom she trains in Johannesburg, for the women’s 800m gold.
Myburgh had the toughest draw against Sanchez, whose unbeaten run the in the hurdles has made him the favourite against defending Olympic champion Angelo Taylor of the United States, who won his heat in style.
But the South African 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 seconds, then waved with his fingers to show the crowd that for him it was plain sailing.
”I’m not fazed 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.”
The Pretoria athlete — whose parents, former champions Hugo and Hybre, were watching from South Africa — finished 13th in the 400m hurdles in Sydney.
”Now I’m very happy,” he said. ”I’ve come here a stronger person both physically and mentally.”
Herbert started well and moved up to challenge Danny McFarlane (Jamaica) and Bennie Brazell (US) down the main straight. Then he saw he was in position to qualify. Instead of taking up the challenge, he wisely cut back, but was surprised when Poland’s Mrek Plawgo sped by him. Mcfarlane won in 48,35 seconds.
In Cilliers’s race, won by Kemel Thompson of Jamaica, the South African kept a cool head for his 49,12 seconds for third — a time that should give him the freshest legs for Thursday’s final.
Kruger ‘was hoping for a big one’
Kruger’s wife, Heli Koivula of Finland, competed in the triple-jump heats earlier in the evening but failed to qualify for the final.
”I’m on my way to meet her now,” said Kruger. ”At least she gets another chance. She’s competing in the long jump on Wednesday.”
Kruger said he had been struggling with the timing of his throw coming into the Olympics.
”I was hoping for a big one, but I just couldn’t get my timing right. I’ve not been throwing 67s like last year.”
He shrugged his massive shoulders.
”That’s the way it goes. I know in my heart I can get back into the 70s.”
Hopley, the former world junior champion, was pleased with his Olympic debut.
”I was going for eighth, but I missed out by 22cm. It was good enough. I’ll be around a while and there’s loads of room for improvement.” — Sapa
Special Report: Olympics 2004