Simbine primed to beat 10sec mark this weekend
Akani Simbine’s coach, Werner Prinsloo, believes he can run the 100 metres in a time faster than 10 seconds for a third time this season at the Flame Games in Amsterdam this weekend.
Sprinter Akani Sambine goes into the Flame Games in Amsterdam on Saturday, intent on exorcising the ghost of Beijing.
Sambine, who has run the 100 metres sub 10 seconds twice this season, failed to qualify for the sprint at the World Championships in the Chinese capital last month.
His coach, Werner Prinsloo, says when focused there should be no reason for him not to run the 100 metres inside 10 seconds in the Dutch capital.
“The thing with Akani is that he is an absolute perfectionist. At the moment he is totally frustrated because he was unable to qualify for the 100 metres final at the World Championships in Beijing. As his coach I can fully understand his feelings, but he should not be too hard on himself,” says Prinsloo.
“He should realize that he finished 11th at the World Championships, which was just two positions away from competing in the final.
“I can predict without hesitation that Akani will come back from this disappointment being a better athlete. That is why I am convinced that he will run a fast time on Saturday if he is in the right mindset. Personally, I won’t be surprised if he runs a sub-10-second time.”
Prinsloo has identified what he needs to work on to ready his athlete for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
“The one aspect on which we will definitely have to work, is Akani’s start.
“I have no doubt that he will be able to consistently run fast times if his start can be improved, especially considering that his top speed from 60 metres onwards compares favourably with that of Asafa Powell, Jamaica’s former world record holder,” he said.
If Prinsloo could have it his way, Simbine’s main focus in the build up to the Olympics will be on the 100 metres.
“I will not mind if he competes in the odd 200 metre race, but he should do so just to enjoy it. The 100 metres is the race in which he can medal at the Games. Would it not be simply awesome if South Africa’s sprinters should win medals in the 100 metres, 200m metres and the 400 metres next year? With the calibre of athletes such as Wayde van Niekerk (400m), Anaso Jobodwana (200m) and Akani and Henricho Bruintjies (both 100 metres), this is not an unrealistic dream.”
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