Manyonga sets Commonwealth Games record as SA takes gold-bronze double

Luvo Manyonga leaps to a new record at the Commopnwealth Games on Wednesday. Photo: REUTERS/Paul Childs

Luvo Manyonga leaps to a new record at the Commopnwealth Games on Wednesday. Photo: REUTERS/Paul Childs

Published Apr 11, 2018

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JOHANNESBURG - Long-jump king Luvo Manyonga added the Commonwealth crown to his world title on Wednesday, with Ruswahl Samaai finishing third to give South Africa a gold-bronze double.

Making his Commonwealth debut, Manyonga again proved his star status, leaping to a new Games record of 8.41m for the win.

Manyonga moved to the top of the pile with his opening jump of 8.24m with Samaai in second place with his first attempt of 8.22m.

World champion Manyonga was briefly relegated to silver-medal position thanks to Aussie Henry Frayne’s second-round jump of 8.33m.

Manyonga recorded a no-jump on his third attempt before moving back into first place with a new Commonwealth record of 8.35m.

The South African highlighted his class on his final jump landing on 8.41m to extend the Games mark adding the Commonwealth gold to his Olympic silver.

Samaai again had to play second fiddle to his compatriot as he battled with consistency on the night winning his second consecutive Commonwealth bronze.

IOL Sport

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