SA star wins big in Sweden

Spearheading the young South African quartet who all reached the podium in their respective events at the Sollentuna Grand Prix permit meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, last night.

Van Niekerk, who clocked 44.38 seconds to smash the national 400m record in New York less than two weeks earlier, won the men's 200m race in 20.53 in the Swedish capital.

Serhiy Smelyk was unable to match the turn of speed produced by the 21-year-old SA student half-lap champion, with the Ukrainian athlete settling for second place in 20.71.

Meanwhile, putting up a solid fight, unheralded 22-year-old long jumper Rushwal Samaai took second place in his specialist discipline with a 7.62m leap.

Former European Junior Championships silver medallist Tomasz Jaszczuk of Poland secured a narrow victory with a best jump of 7.68m.

In-form 21-year-old 100m hurdler Rikenette Steenkamp finished third in her event in 13.38 seconds, with German Pamela Dutkiewicz winning the race in 13.26.

And 20-year-old sprinter Justine Palframan also grabbed third position, clocking 23.77 seconds in the women's 200m race.

Natalia Strogova was first across the line in 23.58.

(File photo:Gallo Images)