Caster, Luxolo impressive in Paarl despite botched timing
A FAULTY timing system threw all times in track events – including Caster Semenya’s attempt on Zola Budd’s 34-year-old SA 1500m record – into doubt at the final leg of the Liquid Telecom Grand Prix Series in Paarl last night.
The wind swirled at the Dal Josaphat Stadium in the shadow of the Drakenstein mountain range in Paarl.
It ultimately did little to aid Semenya in her quest for yet another record. As she lined up for the race, officials were trying to fix the stadium clock, with spectators ultimately left in the dark as to whether she was on record-breaking pace or not.
Dominique Scott-Efurd remained in Semenya’s shadow at the bell before the three-time world champion opened some daylight between them.
When Semenya crossed the line, it was announced she had broken the record, only to be told minutes later that she had finished more than a second outside the old mark.
Semenya had posted an official time of 4:02.50 with Scott-Efurd missing out in a PB in clocking 4:08.61.
“It was a good race, the plan was just to maintain and just try to relax as much as we can,” Semenya said.
“It was all about running a good rhythm, I was not here to break any record.”
Bringing the curtain down on the evening, Akani Simbine proved why he is the man to beat in the 100m. Simbine crossed the line in a time of 10.08 even though the clock showed 9.85.
Simon Magakwe finished second behind him in 10.24 with Henricho Bruintjies finishing third in 10.27.
The only result that could not be corrupted by incompetent timing people came courtesy of local wunderkind Ruswahl Samaai in the men’s long jump.
Samaai gave his home town a worldclass display by launching a season’s best 8.39m on his first attempt.
“I knew I was going going to jump it today, I felt it was coming, so for me to jump a season’s best tonight is fantastic,” Samaai said.
“For now, the most important thing is just to stay healthy and improve where I possibly can.”
Finishing second behind Samaai, Cheswell Johnson leapt to a new personal best of 8.12m with Zarck Visser bagging bronze with 7.99m. Samaai is showing serious form ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where he will be looking to improve on his bronze from four years ago.
He leapt over 8.10 metres on each of his five attempts.
“Consistency is the key to getting to the next dimension, so for me to be jumping 8.30, 8.39 and 8.20 just shows something big is coming.”
His jump moved him into second place in the world this year behind Cuba’s rising star Juan Miguel Echevarria.
The men’s 200m produced one of performances of the meeting. When 21-yearold Soutg African champion Luxolo Adams crossed the line, the clock flashed 19.78, which would have been the second fastest time ever by a South African.
The official time, however, was still an impressive 20.01 with Adams shaving 0.07 off his previous best posted at the South African Track and Field Championships in Pretoria.
It was a battle royale between Adams and 2015 world bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana (20.07).