Chase on in the gold rush

THE race is on to win Team South Africa’s first medal of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow today.

The 2014 showpiece, that will run until next week Sunday, kicks off today with a handful of hopefuls gunning for silverware.

SA has traditionally done well on this stage, having bagged no fewer than 33 medals nor finishing lower than sixth since 1998.

Kate Roberts and Gillian Saunders officially have the first opportunity in the women’s triathlon that starts at noon (SA time), although the better chance of making the podium will come in the men’s race at 4pm, from Richard Murray.

But the talkative triathlete, who finished 17th at the Olympics, is playing down his own chances.

“I’m capable of a medal, but…” Then he points out various obstacles he has to overcome.

First of all there are England’s Brownlee brothers, Olympic champion Alistair and bronze medallist Jonathan.

Murray has beaten them twice this season, once over the traditional Olympic distance (1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run) and once in a sprint triathlon (750m, 20km and 5km).

For some of the top teams, their three athletes work together for the common cause, where two might forego their own chances for their golden boy.

“It’s become more of a team sport,” said Murray, adding that South Africa was still behind the curve. His teammates Henri Schoeman and Wian Sullwald will compete individually in the same race.

“We haven’t got there yet,” explains Murray. “It would be selfish of me to ask them to sacrifice their chances.”

That’s understandable in a country where financial support is often based on an individual’s ranking and not on their supporting roles.

Murray, a relatively weak swimmer, aims to latch on to one of the New Zealand competitors coming out of the water, and then to sit with him in the cycle, where the hilly terrain will make it difficult to catch up to the frontrunners.

His challenge could end as early as the water or even on the bike, and triumph can be secured only late in the final running leg.

At least he has the consolation of being named in the Brownlees’ book, Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story, in which they admit they needed to blow Murray away early in the Olympic race.

Murray’s longer-term plan is to work with former Olympic champion Ryk Neethling to improve his swimming.

If Murray doesn’t make the podium, SA’s next chance will go to Portia Vries in the women’s 48kg weightlifting competition, which begins at 4.30pm.

Listed as one of Team SA’s medal hopes for 2014, she ended sixth in 2010, some 9kg light of the bronze medal.

Next up are the swimmers.

Although Roland Schoeman and Chad le Clos will be in action in the heats and semifinals of the 50m butterfly race – Schoeman is the favourite, by the way – the final is scheduled only for tomorrow.

That leaves three realistic chances, with Karin Prinsloo in two of them.

First she has the 200m freestyle, and then the 4x100m freestyle relay, although she has hopefully recovered from the chest infection that felled her soon after her arrival in Glasgow last week.

Myles Brown is the other hopeful, in the men’s 400m freestyle.

Both Prinsloo and Brown will have to be at their best – neither is ranked in the top three. On entry times Prinsloo is fourth and Brown seventh.

Also in medal pursuit today are the men’s track cyclists, rhythmic gymnasts Grace Legote and sisters Aimee and Julene van Rooyen, as well as Daniel le Grange, Sinothando Mva and Siyabulela Mabulu in the judo.

And if it doesn’t work out today, there’s always tomorrow.