World junior champion Louis van Zyl led home a South African one-two in the men’s 400m hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.
The 20-year-old broke the Games record with a time of 48,06 seconds to edge out compatriot Alwyn Myburgh, while Kemel Thompson of Jamaica took the bronze.
LJ, as he is known, came from behind to pass Myburgh in the final metres and confirm the promise which made him South Africa’s athlete of the year last year during which he finished sixth in the world championship final.
Myburgh, seventh in the 2004 Olympic final, had coasted past Thompson early in the final straight after the Jamaican, who had strapping round his left calf, started to tire.
Myburgh looked to have the title in the bag but van Zyl dug deep to give South Africa their fourth title of the athletics competition in which they are without several of their more established stars.
Behind the medallists Welshman Rhys Williams was left well adrift but the 22-year-old son of Welsh rugby legend JJ Williams finished fourth and ran a personal best.
Sadly for defending champion Chris Rawlinson there was to be no fairytale ending to his respectable career, as the 33-year-old Englishman was never in contention and finished last in his farewell to the sport. — AFP
