South Africa’s national track and field team,...

South Africa’s national track and field team, competing in its first international meet in 23 years, tied a squad of boycott-breaking Americans at Potchefstroom, South Africa.

South Africa lost its chance to win the dual meet in the final event, the 400-meter relay, when anchorman Tshakile Nzimande bobbled the final baton pass.

The Americans, who face suspensions for defying United States track officials, trailed by one point going into the 400-meter relay.

Pole vaulter Anthony Curren set an African record of 17 feet, 11 inches to win the event. Patrick Drake ran a career best of 45.58 seconds in the 400 meters, and Milan Stewart won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.91.

The South Africans won the long jump, the 100- and 200-meter sprints, the 800- and 1,500-meter runs, and the only two events contested by women--the long jump and 100-meter hurdles.

Tom Petranoff, a former Olympian who settled in South Africa after competing in a rebel track series a year ago, threw the javelin 282 feet 2 inches.

Nine of the 16 U.S. athletes, and their coach, Dick Tomlinson, received suspensions from U.S. track officials ranging from two to 12 years for competing in South Africa last year.