Van Zyl equals world record

TWO-TIME Olympian LJ van Zyl looks on track for a third after another impressive early-season victory in Manchester, England on Saturday.

The 2006 Commonwealth champion not only won the 200-metre hurdles event at the Great City Games event but he equalled the world record in a time of 22.10 seconds.

Ray Stewart (USA) was second in 22.85s and Felix Sanchez (Dominican Republic) was second in 23.08s.

“It was great fun,” said Van Zyl just after his event. “And to equal a world record. Now I know I’m really in form but obviously the big test will be in Doha next week for the first Diamond League. After I was in the lead after the second hurdle I knew the race was mine, they won’t just catch me from behind and that gave me such selfconfidence.”

He now holds the joint world record with Britain’s Andy Turner and is full of praise for new coach Irma Reyneke, herself a former Springbok 400m hurdles runner and still in the SA top-15 listings, 26 years after her own personal best. Van Zyl now heads for Doha where he’ll prepare with minimum distraction before Diamond League action. – ANA