Former national 100m record holder Simon Magakwe stormed over the line in 10.06 seconds at the Athletics Grand Prix Series meeting in Mangaung on Saturday night, earning another morale-boosting victory in the early stages of the 2019 season.
The Itsoseng local and former NWU athlete, equalled his Season’s Best in the short sprint, cementing his place as the fastest man in the country this year, less than two weeks ahead of his national title defence at the Sizwe Medical Fund and 3SixtyLife ASA Senior and Combined Events Track and Field Championships in Germiston, Johannesburg.
“I’m happy with the race but I was disappointed with my start,” Magakwe admitted. “I’m always slow at the start and I have to catch up, which is not good. But I’m happy with the time and I want to go faster at the SA Championships. I need to correct my start.”
Gaining some valuable racing experience ahead of the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama next month, the SA men’s 4x100m team of Erasmus, Magakwe, Chederick van Wyk and Akani Simbine won the sprint relay in 38.88, with the national B team settling for second position in 40.13. And the SA women’s 4x100m quartet clocked 45.88, completing the race more than two seconds ahead of the Kingdom of Eswatini national team who finished second.
The second and final leg of the Athletics Grand Prix series will be held in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, 17 April 2019 with the action starting at 17:20.
See more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/potchefstroom-herald/59856/athletics-grand-prix-will-see-top-crop-potch/
