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 nail-biting semifinal at the Olympic Stadium on Tuesday night.
”Oh man, I just can’t believe this,” said a jubilant Myburgh after ending in third place behind favourites Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic and Marek Plawgo (Poland) in a season-best 48,21 seconds before a sell-out, 70 000-strong crowd.
With the first two semifinalists going through to Thursday’s final along with the two fastest followers in the three races, the prospect of an historical Olympic first was left on tenterhooks with Myburgh’s third place.
Then Llewellyn Herbert, the bronze medal winner at Sydney 2000, struggled from start to finish for fifth in his heat in 48,57 seconds against the 48 seconds by winner Danny McFarlane of Jamaica and all hope of an historical final faded.
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-second sixth place against the 48,18 seconds set by James Carter of the United States up front.
As the photo finish separated second-placed Bayano Kamani, Naman Keita and Kemel Thompson at a 100th of a second each, it looked like Myburgh wouldn’t make it through.
Then the screen flashed Myburgh’s 48,21 seconds as the seventh-fastest finisher and he was ecstatic to be included.
”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’m a more experienced and stronger athlete than in Sydney,” said the son of former track champions Hybre and Hugo. ”It’s come together nicely here so far.”
”We’re all in good shape. Now it’s mental,” said the Pretoria athlete, who finished 13th at Sydney where Taylor won gold.
He said that he was surprised to have beaten the defending gold and silver medallists.
”But now I must focus on the final. I reckon at least the first three are going to run sub-48s. By the time we get out there, all of us will be having three races in our legs.”
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.” — Sapa
Special Report: Olympics 2004