South Africans bow out in Moscow

Cremona came seventh in his group with a heave of 19.42 metres, two outside a qualifying position for the final. Overall he finished 15th, missing out by three spots to advance. “I’m disappointed. I thought I could go further,” said Cremona, the African silver medalist.

“I knew it would take automatic qualification and would require close to my best, but thought I might get through in the rankings.” Cremona said it was frustrating to have missed out by such a narrow margin.

“There was nothing particularly wrong out there, I just didn’t hit it. “The distances all seemed lower, but I still finished higher than others who have a PB over a metre better than me.”

Javelin thrower Rob Oosthuizen missed out in making it to the next round, coming 31st out of 33 in his event. “I didn’t have high expectations coming into the championships,” said Oosthuizen. “I knew it was going to be hard but I thought I might qualify.

“There are no injuries now and if I can stay injury free then I can build back to Commonwealth next year.” In the women’s 200 metres, Justine Palframan clocked 23.64 for fifth position in her heat, and missed out on qualification for the next round.

The 19-year-old went out fast, but faded midway down the home straight. “I went off hard, but tied up on the home straight,” said the Stellenbosch University student.

Palframan would have needed to run close to, if not better, her personal best time of 23.22 to advance. “It’s been an amazing experience, but I am disappointed with my time.

“I had hoped to get a PB and that it may have given me a spot in the semi. I’d have been satisfied with a PB.”

– Sapa