Adnaan Mohamed in Paris
Adriaan Wildschutt ran the race of his life in the men’s 10 000m final here at the Stade de France in Saint Denis to set a blistering South African record of 26min 50.64sec at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Friday.
With the swimming programme coming to an end, the main focus switched to the Stade de France stadium which is playing host to track and field for the next week. Day one finished with the lights on as Wildschutt left everything out on the track and after 25 laps of an energy-sapping fast race, he had a bright NR next to his name.
The gold medal was won by Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei in an Olympic record 26:24.25, having sprinted clear of the opposition down the straight for the final time. Seven Africans filled the first 10 places, with Wildschutt only fading late.
The 26-year old from Ceres in the Western Cape had matched strides with the main pack for long periods of the race and he was still right in contention after 7000m, in fact, occupying fourth spot in 18.46.1. He even felt it was only in the last lap that things got away with him.
“I thought I ran really smart,” he said.
“I knew I’d have to be really good in the last three, four laps. I moved up and got myself in an amazing position. I stuck with the pack and it was only in the last 300m that I started struggling, I’m very satisfied and very grateful for everything that I’ve been able to accomplish so far.
“My coach and I discussed things and the plan was to conserve as much energy as possible, know I’d have to run a fast last 1000m.”
Earlier in the evening programme Prudence Sekgodiso was one of 22 two-lap athletes to dip under two minutes (she had a 1:59.84), but qualified as the second-placed finisher in heat two. As is always the case, the heats were tightly-contested as it is more about the finishing result and not the time. For instance, in the final heat, seven of the eight athletes bettered two minutes, although only the first three qualified automatically for the semis.
“I’m excited, everything went according to plan and now I’ve made it to the semis,” Sekgodiso said afterwards. She had hit the line in a comfortable second behind Daily Cooper Gaspar of Cuba, after taking the bell at a relaxed 59.3sec.
“I’m looking forward to those semis. When I stepped onto the track I saw the crowd and it was just amazing. I thought I’m just going to stick to my plan and that’s what I did.
“I’ve been running sub-two minutes for a long time. I was feeling good and I made my move and gave it my all and pushed through to come second. What I’m going to do now is get my mind and body ready for the semi-final.”
Big shot putter Kyle Blignaut suffered disappointment when he was unable to qualify for Saturday’s final. Only the top six putters from each of Groups A and B went through to the 12-man final, and the South African’s effort of 20.78m left him in seventh and out. He would have had to have a 20.01m or further distance to progress from that group.
Afterwards, Blignaut was philosophical. “I feel in great form and have been working hard. But it’s not meant to be and I’m going to have to wait another for years for the next Olympics,” he said.
“There’s stuff like world championships and Commonwealth Games before then but I wanted to reach the final and make it special for my old coach Pierre Blignaut, who passed away. I have a new Italian coach and it’s a new process that will take another year to kick in, but I hope to be at the next Olympics in 2028 and get on the podium.”
Earlier in the morning’s 1500m heats, both Ryan Mphelele and Tshepo Tshite found the pace hot and while it was Tshite who was the faster of the two in 3min 36.87sec, both are going to find it tough in the next repechage round as they try to make their way through the heats.
Photo: ANTON GEYSER
