Blast from the past: Barefoot De Klerk sprints into the record books

Today in SA sports history: April 8

1989 — Running barefoot, Evette de Klerk breaks the SA 200m record as she clocks 22.06 sec in Polokwane, then known as Pietersburg. That mark still stands. On the same day she crossed the line in a 100m race in 10.99, but the wind assistance of 2.3 metres per second deemed it unofficial. Her 11.06 100m record from 1990 fell only in 2018.

1994 — In the closest match of the eight-ODI series, Australia beat SA by one run in Bloemfontein to tie the series 4-4. The visitors had scored 203/6 in their 50 overs, with three batsmen getting into the forties. SA got off to a good start, with Andrew Hudson (84) and captain Kepler Wessels putting on 82 for the opening partnership. But the batsmen lost momentum after that and eventually ended on 202/8 at the end of their innings.

1997 — Australia take a 3-2 lead in the seven-match ODI series when they beat the Proteas by eight runs in the fifth ODI at the Wanderers. Opener Michael Di Venuto scored 89 to anchor the visitors to 258/7. Daryll Cullinan (53), Jacques Kallis (55), Hansie Cronje (40 not out) and Shaun Pollock (40) kept SA in the hunt before their allotted overs ran out with eight wickets down on 250.