Setting a new South African record is normally a highlight of any athlete’s career but Ruan de Vries can’t help feeling slightly overwhelmed and confused after his record breaking run of 13.23 seconds in the 110-hurdles in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

This is because there were just so many rumours going around about the official timing after the ASA Speed Series-event.

ASA President Aleck Skhosana explained the issue around the men's 100m race: "The transponder in the starting device did not react at the start. It's a new system and we will have to find out from the (private) company what caused it.”

According to Skhosana there is no reason at this stage to question the rest of the results. "In the other races, we can't discredit the athletes until we know whether there was an issue with the times."

On social media however, a lot of fun was been made about the fact that so many athletes managed to run personal best times way faster than their previous best times. It was hinted that any athlete who wanted to run a best time should have been in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night.

It is due to this that De Vries is hesitant to celebrate the record. In the men's 110m hurdles race, he charged to victory, setting a national record of 13.23 seconds to better the previous mark of 13.24 which was held by Lehann Fourie, improving his own personal best by 0.36. 

“It was certainly one of my better races. I was off to a good start and by the fifth hurdle, I started to edge ahead. Technically I executed my race to perfection not hitting one of the ten hurdles. Taking this into account I know that I did run a faster time than I normally would have. 
“If it is a new record I will take it but if for some reason the decision makers of Athletics South Africa find that the timing system did not work properly and that my time of 13.23s is unofficial I will also be OK with it.

“The reason I am still competing at the age of 31 is because I love running and because, as far as I am concerned, I still have unfinished business on the track. Setting records was never a goal of mine. What I really want to do before I retire is to qualify to represent South Africa at a World Championship or the Olympic Games. If I manage to do so my next goal will be to race in a semi-final but there is still a lot of hard work to be done for this to become a reality.” 

De Vries’s athletics career nearly came to an abrupt end in 2013 when he tore knee ligaments. He had to wear a cast for 11 weeks and had to re-learn to walk properly again. It was his love for athletics that made him decide to start running again.

It is interesting to note that as youth athlete De Vries set a world record time at Pilditch which was never officially recognised due to a timing system that was also not functioning properly.
Hennie Kriel who coaches De Vries at TuksAthletics admits to being slightly surprised by Wednesday night’s time.

“I knew Ruan had good form but I did not quite expect him to run 13.23s. I am aware of all the rumours but up to now nobody has said that Ruan’s time is not a new record.  So I am glad for him especially since he has qualified for the World Championships in London.”