Moscow - Marc Mundell will be hoping to better his own South African record in the 50km walk at the IAAF World Championships on Wednesday in Moscow.
Training in temperatures nearing the 30 degree mark, a steep drop to around 16 degrees was predicted for the race.
The favourable conditions would allow Mundell the chance to improve on his personal best time of three hours, 55 minutes and 32 seconds (3:55:32) he set at the 2012 London Olympics.
"My ambition for the race is to come away with a personal best," said Mundell.
"I'm in good shape after having surgery on my knee last year. I've recovered nicely and the body is feeling strong.
"I'm walking well on the 20k time-checks and I am a much more confident walker after the Olympic experience, which gives me a sense of belonging here."
While Mundell was not a genuine medal contender, he said would be proud to set the SA record at the prestigious event.
"I'm looking forward to standing on the start line in my very first championships, and if I can improve my PB in a major championships, then I feel I've done everything I can to represent my country."
Mundell said it would be quite an adjustment after training in much warmer temperatures.
"It's been really challenging trying to work out what the weather conditions are going to be like.
"On Friday, I trained in the midst of the heat to get a feel and get used to it and to do the best I can to regulate my body temperature."
Fourth day finals results on Tuesday at the World Athletics Championships:
Men:
400 m:
1. LaShawn Merritt (USA) 43.74
2. Tony McQuay (USA) 44.40
3. Luguelin Santos (DOM) 44.52
4. Jonathan Borlee (BEL) 44.54
5. Pavel Maslak (CZE) 44.91
6. Yousef Ahmed Masrahi (KSA) 44.97
7. Kirani James (GRN) 44.99
8. Anderson Henriques (BRA) 45.03
800m:
1. Mohammed Aman (ETH) 1:43.31
2. Nick Symmonds (USA) 1:43.55
3. Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI) 1:43.76
4. Marcin Lewandowski (POL) 1:44.08
5. Andrew Osagie (GBR) 1:44.36
6. Duane Solomon (USA) 1:44.42
7. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (FRA) 1:44.79
8. Abdulaziz Mohammed (KSA) 1:46.57
Discus:
1. Robert Harting (GER) 69.11
2. Piotr Malachowski (POL) 68.36
3. Gerd Kanter (EST) 65.19
4. Martin Wierig (GER) 65.02
5. Victor Hogan (RSA) 64.35
6. Robert Urbanek (POL) 64.32
7. Vikas Gowda (IND) 64.03
8. Victor Butenko (RUS) 63.38
9. Yennifer Frank Casaas (ESP) 62.89
10. Jorge Hernandez (CUB) 62.88
11. Julian Wruck (AUS) 62.40
12. Mario Pestano (ESP) 61.88
Women:
Pole vault:
1. Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) 4.89
2. Jennifer Suhr (USA) 4.82
3. Yarisley Silva (CUB) 4.82
4. Silke Spiegelburg (GER) 4.75
5. Fabiana Murer (BRA) 4.65
5. Anastasia Savchenko (RUS) 4.65
7. Angelina Zhuk-Krasnova (RUS) 4.65
8. Jirina Ptacnikova-Svobodova (CZE) 4.55
8. Lisa Ryzih (GER) 4.55
10. Kristina Gadschiew (GER) 4.45
20km walk:
1. Elena Lashmanova (RUS) 1:27:08
2. Anisya Kirdyapkina (RUS) 1:27:11
3. Liu Hong (CHN) 1:28:10
4. Sun Huanhuan (CHN) 1:28:32
5. Elisa Rigaudo (ITA) 1:28:41
6. Beatriz Pascual (ESP) 1:29:00
7. Anezka Drahotov (CZE) 1:29:05
8. Ana Cabecinha (POR) 1:29:17
9. Julia Takacs (ESP) 1:29:25
10. Eleonora Giorgi (ITA) 1:30:01
3000m steeplechase:
1. Milcah Chemos Cheywa (KEN) 9:11.65
2. Lydia Chepkurui (KEN) 9:12.55
3. Sofia Assefa (ETH) 9:12.84
4. Hiwot Ayalew (ETH) 9:15.25
5. Etenesh Diro (ETH) 9:16.97
6. Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (KEN) 9:22.05
7. Valentyna Zhudina (UKR) 9:33.73
8. Antje Mldner-Schmidt (GER) 9:34.06
9. Gesa Felicitas Krause (GER) 9:37.11
10. Eilish McColgan (GBR) 9:37.33
Heptathlon:
2. Brianne Theisen (CAN) 6530
3. Dafne Schippers (NED) 6477
4. Claudia Rath (GER) 6462
5. Katarina Thompson (GBR) 6449
6. Sharon Day (USA) 6407
7. Eliska Klucinova (CZE) 6332
8. Antoinette Djimou (FRA) 6326
9. Karolina Tyminska (POL) 6270
10. Nadine Broersen (NED) 6224