Sprint hurdler Franco Le Roux produced the highlight for Team South Africa on Day 2 of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze 26 in Poland on Saturday.
Opening the national squad’s campaign at the indoor showpiece, Franco Le Roux smashed the African record in the men’s 60m hurdles heats, winning his race in 7.50 seconds.
He took 0.02 off the continental mark of 7.52 set by countryman Shaun Bownes in Belgium in February 2001.
Le Roux and compatriot Mondray Barnard, who was fourth in his heat in 7.69, both progressed to the next round of the 60m hurdles event.
Le Roux ended fourth in his semifinal in 7.55 (just 0.02 outside a place in the final), and Barnard took seventh place in his race in 7.68 seconds.
While Barnard did not progress, Le Roux was given a lifeline when American athlete Dylan Beard withdrew from the medal contest due to injury, and the South African was given a lane in the final.
He went on to take seventh place in the final in 7.51, with local favourite Jakub Szymanski winning gold in 7.40 seconds.
In the men’s 3,000m final, fellow South African Luan Munnik finished in the seventh position with a personal best of 7:37.94.
Munnik improved his career best of 7:38.35, completing the 15-lap race a little more than a second outside the South African record of 7:36.90 set by Tshepo Tshite in France last month.
Up front, American athlete Cole Hocker earned the gold medal in 7:35.70.
Meet the Author (s)
Athletics South Africa is the governing body for the sport code of track and field in the Republic of South Africa with a head office in Johannesburg.
