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Pretoria – LJ van Zyl is ready to run the 400m hurdles in less than 49 seconds at Friday night’s IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo, Norway.
Last year he also only broke through 49 seconds in June.
“I want LJ shoulder to shoulder with the USA’s Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson at the first hurdle,” said his coach, Hennie Kotzé.
“The Americans’ strength is that they always start well. LJ’s finish is his strength. If everything works out, he will accelerate from the seventh hurdle.”
The race can be a repeat of what happened in Doha. Jackson, Clement (a two-time world champion) and Van Zyl then competed for the top three spots. Jackson won in 48,60.
Peter van der Westhuizen, who is running in the mile, is the only other South African in action on Friday night.
His father, Glen, said that his son would look to run a time of 3 minutes and 50 seconds.
“Everything will depend on whether the pace-setter does his job. In Puerto Rico the pace-setter was way too slow. Peter then had to knock him out of the way and set the pace himself to win the 1500m.
“Peter will pick up the pace during the third lap to tap the other athletes’ strength.”
Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop, who boasts a best of 3:32.22 in the 1500m this year, Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Geremedhin (3:33.35) and Kenya’s Geofrey Rono (3:33.92) are the favourites.
The duel in the javelin throwing event between Norway’s world champion Andreas Thorkildsen and Finland’s Olympic champion Tero Pitkämäki promises to be a highlight.
Meanwhile, Khotso Mokoena (SA) finished second (8.15m) in the long jump in Chanai, Greece, earlier this week.
Pretoria – LJ van Zyl is ready to run the 400m hurdles in less than 49 seconds at Friday night’s IAAF Diamond League meeting in Oslo, Norway.
Last year he also only broke through 49 seconds in June.
“I want LJ shoulder to shoulder with the USA’s Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson at the first hurdle,” said his coach, Hennie Kotzé.
“The Americans’ strength is that they always start well. LJ’s finish is his strength. If everything works out, he will accelerate from the seventh hurdle.”
The race can be a repeat of what happened in Doha. Jackson, Clement (a two-time world champion) and Van Zyl then competed for the top three spots. Jackson won in 48,60.
Peter van der Westhuizen, who is running in the mile, is the only other South African in action on Friday night.
His father, Glen, said that his son would look to run a time of 3 minutes and 50 seconds.
“Everything will depend on whether the pace-setter does his job. In Puerto Rico the pace-setter was way too slow. Peter then had to knock him out of the way and set the pace himself to win the 1500m.
“Peter will pick up the pace during the third lap to tap the other athletes’ strength.”
Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop, who boasts a best of 3:32.22 in the 1500m this year, Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Geremedhin (3:33.35) and Kenya’s Geofrey Rono (3:33.92) are the favourites.
The duel in the javelin throwing event between Norway’s world champion Andreas Thorkildsen and Finland’s Olympic champion Tero Pitkämäki promises to be a highlight.
Meanwhile, Khotso Mokoena (SA) finished second (8.15m) in the long jump in Chanai, Greece, earlier this week.
