Mokoena eyes new record

SOUTH Africa's solitary Beijing Olympics medallist Khotso "Crocodile" Mokoena, is out to shatter his own national long jump record.

Mokoena's current record, which was set in Madrid, Spain, on July 5 2009, stands at 8.50m but the lanky athlete feels that was a long time ago.

He is targeting the Diamond League meet in London on Friday as the place to smash his own record as part of his preparations for the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, next month.

"That record has been hanging in there for a long time, it's about time I come up with something better," said Mokoena, who left for England last night. "I feel good and am looking forward to doing well on Friday night. It will be my last competition before the World Championships. If the record does not fall on Friday, then definitely it will be in Daegu," said Mokoena, who is also the triple jump record holder after jumping 17.25m on April 16 2005.

Mokoena is using the Daegu championships to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics, where Sascoc president Gideon Sam promised SA 12 medals.

After smoking the peace pipe with Sascoc, Mokoena said: "It is true that the misunder-standing between Sascoc and I has been resolved.

"It was frustrating because I was using my own money to pay for flights, accommodation and medical expenses for more than a year. Now that this thing has been resolved, I promise the country a gold from Daegu."

Sowetan has it on good authority that Mokoena's problems with Sascoc started after his utterances that banned ASA president Leonard Chuene was the best leader. Mokoena argued that Chuene took good care of athletes. Sascoc also claimed that Mokoena faked injury after withdrawing from the 2010 Commonwealth Games, despite his submitting a medical certificate.