Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 62, September 2014 | Page 10
Ou
rM
od
Ka
lme
r’s
The names
of the Games
I kind of have a lovehate relationship with the
Commonwealth Game...
– BY RENE KALMER
from competing in Manchester in 2002, Deli
in 2010 and now once again in Glasgow. Even
though I was disappointed to miss out again, I
backed Team South Africa all the way, and our
track and field athletes did exceptionally well,
bagging a total of seven medals (two gold, three
silver and two bronze). It was also great to see
the youngsters stepping up and enjoying the
world stage.
My Proudly SA Moments
Images: Santie Korf Photography & Horatio Carter
•
•
•
•
•
I
•
Cornel Fredericks won the men’s 400m
hurdles in a world class time of 48.50
seconds.
In the women’s javelin, Sunette Viljoen
saved her 63.19m best throw for last to
snatch silver and break up the Aussie trio
then in the podium positions.
Khotso Mokoena set a seasonal best of
17.20m to claim gold in the men’s triple
jump.
Zarck Visser and Rushwahl Samaai
finished second and third in the men’s long
jump with distances of 8.12m and 8.08m
respectively.
Wayde van Niekerk finished second in the
men’s 400m in 44.68, behind the Olympic
champion, Kirani James from Grenada.
Andre Olivier finished third in a very
exciting men’s 800m race. His training
partner, Nijel Amos of Botswana, out-kicked
World Record holder David Rudisha in the
home straight to claim gold.
Then, over the past decade, SASCOC’s selection
criteria, where you have to be ranked in the top
four or five in the Commonwealth, stopped me
•
Ath
let
eB
ran
C