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Long jumper Khotso Mokoena

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South Africa's only medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Khotso Mokoena, qualified for this year's global showpiece at the Rome Diamond League meeting on Thursday night.

Mokoena, who secured a lone silver in Beijing four years ago, reached the required distance of 8.20m with his final jump of the evening to clinch second place behind Greg Rutherford of Great Britain, who leapt 8.32m to snatch victory.

Also in fine form, South African javelin throw record holder Sunette Viljoen finally found her first big throw of the season. Viljoen consistently dropped the javelin over the 60-metres mark, striking 67.95m with her last attempt to finish second behind world record holder Barbora Spotakova of the Czech Republic.

Two of South Africa's major medal prospects for the London Olympics, Caster Semenya and LJ van Zyl, looked flat on the night.

Van Zyl continued in his struggle to find form in the men’s 400m hurdles, finishing second last in a pedestrian time of 50.33 seconds.

Countryman, Cornel Fredericks, however, saved face as he held on to take third place in 49.21.

Semenya was once again off the pace in the women’s 800m event as she stayed with the leading pack in the first half of the race but fell back when the leaders shifted up a gear.

The former world champion finished eighth in two minutes, 00.07 seconds (2:00.07).

Meanwhile, Ruben Ramolefi once again failed to reach the Olympic qualifying standard in the men’s 3 000m steeplechase as he finished second last in 8:30.41.

South African sprint sensation Simon Magakwe faded in a star-studded men’s 100m race, with Jamaican world record holder Usain Bolt winning in 9.76 seconds.

Magakwe clocked 10.33, well off the Olympic qualifying time of 10.18.

The SA men’s 4x400m relay team finished seventh in 3:06.07.

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Thu May 23 11:10:18 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 1, 2012

mthosam

bad, very bad for olympics. see what the spear is doing for Mzanzi
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Jun 1, 2012

T'dpole

I think Caster has started having sex, hence her performace is so bad recently!!!!!!!!!!
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Jun 1, 2012

ancnduntsu

Madlebe is doing well.I watched you performing las nyt kwedini.
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Jun 2, 2012

Letlotlo

@T'dpole, People why do you have to insult people when you comment?


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