RICHARD Murray won Team South Africa’s first medal on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games as he claimed bronze in the men’s triathlon.
It was a much-needed fillip on a day of mixed fortunes in which Marsha Cox’s hockey ladies thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 16-0, but the swimmers sank.
This was also the first time a South African had clinched a triathlon gong at a multi-coded event.
There was never any doubt about the triathlon gold and silver, which went to the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonathan, who were unchallenged after blowing off Scottish hopeful Marc Austin in the cycle.
And by the time Murray started the 10km run, quickly shaking off his nearest rivals, there was no doubt about him claiming the last podium spot.
It was a perfect race for the South African, who finished 17th at the London Olympics.
He was 16th as he came out of the water – swimming is his weakest event – and he patiently worked his way up the field before crossing the line in 1hr 50min 21sec, 91 seconds off the pace.
Countrymen Wian Sullwald and Henri Schoeman ended 15th and 16th.
Kate Roberts was in the top 10 coming out of the water in the women’s triathlon, but after being taken out by a Canadian in the cycling leg, she never had a chance.
She finished 14th, one place behind compatriot Gillian Sanders.
On the hockey pitch Dirkie Chamberlain hammered in four goals while six of her teammates also got on the score sheets.
Celia Evans managed a hattrick and Shelley Russell, who netted the first goal in the eighth minute, scored a brace, as did Tarryn Bright, Sulette Damons and Kathleen Taylor.
But elsewhere Glasgow proved unkind, particularly for young swimmer Marlies Ross who cost her relay team a spot in last night’s final, maybe even a medal.
Taking over from Trudi Maree in the 4x100m freestyle relay, she dived in 0.17sec too early to get the team disqualified.
Karin Prinsloo and Erin Gallager finished the race for SA, clocking an impressive 3min 44.86sec that would have comfortably broken the 3:45.56 SA record, even if Ross had taken a few extra breaths before diving in.
More importantly it would have seeded them fourth for last night’s final, although they would have had a tough time going at least three seconds faster to make the podium.
Myles Brown, touted as a medal in the men’s 200m freestyle, failed to get past the heats, clocking the ninth-fastest time of the morning.
“I felt good at half way, but maybe I went out too fast,” he said afterwards.
Australian David McKeon, winner of the heat, was on world record pace for half the race, and perhaps that proved too much for Brown.
SA’s swimmers are going to have to be at their best at this gala, because the opposition have come here fired up and in top form – in the morning four Games records were broken.
Weightlifting medal hope Portia Vries crashed without challenging the podium.
Murray wins SA’s first medal
It was a much-needed fillip on a day of mixed fortunes in which Marsha Cox’s hockey ladies thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 16-0, but the swimmers sank.
This was also the first time a South African had clinched a triathlon gong at a multi-coded event.
There was never any doubt about the triathlon gold and silver, which went to the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonathan, who were unchallenged after blowing off Scottish hopeful Marc Austin in the cycle.
And by the time Murray started the 10km run, quickly shaking off his nearest rivals, there was no doubt about him claiming the last podium spot.
It was a perfect race for the South African, who finished 17th at the London Olympics.
He was 16th as he came out of the water – swimming is his weakest event – and he patiently worked his way up the field before crossing the line in 1hr 50min 21sec, 91 seconds off the pace.
Countrymen Wian Sullwald and Henri Schoeman ended 15th and 16th.
Kate Roberts was in the top 10 coming out of the water in the women’s triathlon, but after being taken out by a Canadian in the cycling leg, she never had a chance.
She finished 14th, one place behind compatriot Gillian Sanders.
On the hockey pitch Dirkie Chamberlain hammered in four goals while six of her teammates also got on the score sheets.
Celia Evans managed a hattrick and Shelley Russell, who netted the first goal in the eighth minute, scored a brace, as did Tarryn Bright, Sulette Damons and Kathleen Taylor.
But elsewhere Glasgow proved unkind, particularly for young swimmer Marlies Ross who cost her relay team a spot in last night’s final, maybe even a medal.
Taking over from Trudi Maree in the 4x100m freestyle relay, she dived in 0.17sec too early to get the team disqualified.
Karin Prinsloo and Erin Gallager finished the race for SA, clocking an impressive 3min 44.86sec that would have comfortably broken the 3:45.56 SA record, even if Ross had taken a few extra breaths before diving in.
More importantly it would have seeded them fourth for last night’s final, although they would have had a tough time going at least three seconds faster to make the podium.
Myles Brown, touted as a medal in the men’s 200m freestyle, failed to get past the heats, clocking the ninth-fastest time of the morning.
“I felt good at half way, but maybe I went out too fast,” he said afterwards.
Australian David McKeon, winner of the heat, was on world record pace for half the race, and perhaps that proved too much for Brown.
SA’s swimmers are going to have to be at their best at this gala, because the opposition have come here fired up and in top form – in the morning four Games records were broken.
Weightlifting medal hope Portia Vries crashed without challenging the podium.
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