/ 17 August 1998

More victories for disabled athletes

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Birmingham | Monday 10.00am.

PENTATHLETE Fanie Lombaard on Saturday broke his own world record in class 42 (above knee amputees) at the World Athletic Championships for the Physically Disabled in Birmingham, England.

Lombaard, who set the previous record in San Diego in May 1997, increased his benchmark by 231 points to 5181 points, finishing 761 points ahead of rival Dane Jakob Mathiason.

Meanwhile, Jane Mandean of Western Province took her third gold in the javelin class 35 (cerebral palsy) event, throwing 16,84m. Adele Snyman of Griqualand West followed Mandean with silver.

Malcolm Pringle of Western Province secured his second gold medal, winning the 800m in 2:09,64. Ernst van Dyk, also of WP, won gold in the class 55 (wheelchair) 800m in 1:42,73, and bronze in the class 55 (wheelchair) 400m event in 51,33.

South Africa’s medal count now stands at 23 — 11 gold, five silver and seven bronze.