Sunette set for medal

Team SA's fairer sex delivered power performances at the Olympics yesterday as Sunette Viljoen and Bridgitte Hartley proved they would be strong medal contenders tomorrow.

Both flew through the qualifying requirements in their respective disciplines - Viljoen in the javelin and Hartley in her kayak sprint. Both will now be on the prowl for silverware tomorrow.

Hartley is up first in the K1 500m final at Eton Dorney (11.08am South African time), whereas Viljoen will begin competing at the Olympic stadium in London at 10pm.

Spare a thought for Anaso Jobodwana, who gets to race against Usain Bolt in their 200m semifinal tonight (9.18pm).

It's now been five full days since Team SA's last medal - what a spectacular 12 hours South Africa could witness tomorrow, Women's Day!

The only time South Africa has won two Olympic medals on the same day - at least since 1992 - was at Athens 2004, when 800m runner Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and high-jumper Hestrie Cloete both scored silvers.

Hartley won her semifinal yesterday in 1min 51.286sec, the second-fastest time of the morning.

The only effort better on the morning was a 1:50.469 by Hungarian Danuta Kozak in a separate heat.

"I just pushed as hard as I could and I came first," said Hartley. "I was really relieved to win the semifinal; it means I am up there with the top girls."

Viljoen, the No1 in the world this year, threw the furthest in her qualification group, an impressive 65.92m in her first attempt, which gave her automatic qualification for the final.

The best throws, however, came in the other pool, where world record-holder Barbora Spotakova nailed 66.19m and veteran German Christina Obergfoll hit 66.14m.

"I'm so pleased with the throw," beamed Viljoen, a bronze medallist at the World Championships last year.

"I threw over 65m so I'm very happy. It is something I've dreamed of and have worked so hard for - it is unbelievable.

"If I end up with a medal it will be really special for myself and my country.

"I take a lot of pride in what I do. I'm fast, I'm quick, I'm strong and I believe. So anything is possible."

Among Team SA's men, Jobodwana and Lehann Fourie (110m hurdles) advanced to tonight's semifinals.

Jobodwana finished second in yesterday's heat behind Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre, officially the world's quickest mlungu.

Fourie clocked a season's best 13.49sec to finish second in his heat behind defending champion Dayron Robles of Cuba.

Richard Murray's hopes in the men's triathlon were blown early yesterday, after losing too much ground in the opening 1.5km swim.

After that, he was forced to play catch-up, and although he tried hard, he was never going to get to the podium.

He was 33rd out of the water, but after the 43km cycle and 10km run he finished 17th in 1hr 49min 15sec - nearly three minutes behind British winner Alistair Brownlee, whose brother Jonathan bagged bronze in the same race.

The SA hockey men were 2-0 up against Argentina 25 minutes into the match, but 25 minutes later they were down 2-5 before losing their final Pool A encounter 3-6.