Paralympics 2012
Double gold chance for SA
2012-09-07 11:57
Cape Town - The South African athletics team wrapped up a successful early
session on the track at the London Paralympic Games on Friday with Dyan
Buis qualifying fastest in the men’s T38 200m heats to book a place in
Saturday's final.
Union Sekailwe joined him as the last placed
qualifier, crossing the line in 24.01 seconds, behind Buis’ South
African record time of 22.57.
"I’m very happy with my time and
didn’t expect it because I slowed a bit towards the end," said Buis who
hails from Riversdale in the Cape.
"I saw the other heat with
Evan O’Hanlon (Australia) and he clocked a great time of 23.10 although
he practically stopped before the end.
"So I’m very excited and
know it will be a great race tomorrow -- we will push each other to our
limits and the time will be spectacular."
Buis said it was good to have his team-mate Sekailwe in the final and they would give each other encouragement.
Another
silver medallist who would be back on the track competing in Friday
evening's semi-finals was Hilton Langenhoven, who qualified fourth
fastest out of 20 athletes in the men’s T12 200m heats.
As some
of the athletes in this visually impaired category run with guides, only
four lanes would be used in each of the three semi-finals.
Langenhoven won his heat in 22.44 seconds while Poland’s Mateusz Michalski was fastest overall in 22.13.
Single-leg amputee from Potchefstroom, Casper Schutte, made his Paralympic debut in the men’s F42 javelin competition.
His
best throw of 48.12 metres was a South African record but left him just
outside the medal positions. China’s Yanlong Fu took the gold with a
world record heave of 52.79m.