JOHANNESBURG . July 6 (Reuter) : African success at past Olympic Games has been largely confined to

the track. The continent is hoping to stretch its medalwinning horizons a little wider In Atlanta this month.

In Barcelona four years ago. African athletes won medals in l.rst tour disciphncn —< Athletics. boxing, soever And a bronze in the men's doubles tennis.

This time round Africa is aiming to break new ground away from the Olympic stadium in Atlanta.

South Africa's re-entry to the Olympic fold in Barcelona heralded hopes of added gold for the continent but a mere two medals for the returnees was a bitter disappointment.

In Atlanta. South Africa are expected to fare better, led by the swimming talent of 21-year-old Penny Heyns in the women's 100 metres breaststroke.

Heyns. who is based at the University of Nebraska, set a new world record of one minute 07.46 seconds in the event at the South African Championships in March and is widely tipped to become the first South African gold medalist since the Helsinki games 44 years ago

She says she is expecting to break that record in the pool in Atlanta.

"I guess I'll be disappointed if I don't do something around 1 06.” she said.

South Africa will also be hoping for a canoeing medal from Ruth Nortje in the 500 metres event where she is ranked third In the world this year

Boxer Maslbulele "Hawk Makepula is another medal prospect in the light flyweight division and potentially the first black to win a meoal for South Africa in Olympic history

In track and field, pole vaulter Okkert Brits and distance runner Elana Meyer hold out further hope of medals but the South Africans will be overshadowed here by two leading personali'ies from neighbouring countries.

Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks, who ran the sec ond fastest 100 metres of all time at the Lausanne Grand Prix on Wednesday, has yet to confirm he will attempt a sprint double but will be the favourite to dethrone training partner and defending Cham pion Linford Christie

Frederick s preferred distance is the 200 metres where he won the world title at the 1993 Stuttgart World Champl on ship*

Mozambique s Maria Mutols has also to decide on whether she will go for a double of her own in the women s 800 and 1.500 metres

The lormer world 800 metres champion who was dis qualified In her semifinal st last year s Gothenburg World , Championships should have 1 little trouble over two pals but 1 the longer event will be s I much tougher test for Mozani I blques leading sporting per sonality

Nlgerts Is again putting to get her strong teams lor both the men s and women s relay*, to be anchored by Davison Ex inwa and Christy Opara. who both broke record* *t the Nigerian championship# last month

I But in West Africa the real

focus of Olympic attention will be on the soccer tournament where both Ghana and Nigeria have strong ambitions of a first-ever African gold.

Ghana finished with bronze medals in Barcelona and believe they can do better this time round.

But it is the star-studded Nigerian squad who will be Africa's real trump card. The prC^sion^^i-cluding Ajax Amsterdam's Nwanako Kanu and Tijani Ba bangida. Belgian-based Celes-lian Babayaro of Anderlecht and German Bundesliga stars Austin Okocha and Oliseh Sun day.

Bursting with confidence, the Nigerians could banish memories of their disappointing early exit from the knockout stage of the World Cup in the US two years ago just when they were threatening to establish African soccer on the international map.