Simbine to race against the best in Doha
Akani Simbine is going to compete against some of the world's best sprinters this weekend.
A fast time is certainly on the cards tomorrow night when some of the world’s top sprinters will line up on Friday night to race in the 100 metres at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha.
It is nearly a scenario of the who’s who of world sprinting that will be racing. Justlin Gatlin (USA) who won the silver medal at last year’s Olympic Games in Rio will be there as will Andre de Grasse (Canada) who won the bronze medal. Asafa Powell (Jamaica) a former world record holder is another big name who will be settling in his starting blocks. The old man of international sprinting Kim Collins (Saint Kitts & Nevis) is also racing.
But watch this space as they say. Akani Simbine could be the one who will be making sprinting history by becoming the first South African to win the 100 metres at a Diamond League Meeting. The Tuks-athlete certainly has been in awesome form so far this season clocking a time of 9.92s and upping his tally of sub ten-second races to 13.
Simbine proved at last year’s Olympic Games in Rio that he has completed his sprint apprenticeship when he finished 5th in the 100m final clocking 9.94s.
According to the season’s statistics, so far Simbine is the fast athlete in the race. Werner Prinsloo, his coach, is, however, quick to point out that it counts for nothing.
“Justlin Gatlin and Andre de Grasse have not yet raced this season. As far as Akani and I are concerned, we are also at the start of a new season when he lines up at the start tomorrow night. I am confident that Akani will run a fast race as he had a good two weeks of training after the South African Championships. Our aim is to dip under 10 seconds,” said Prinsloo.
Prinsloo did not want to speculate on Simbine possibly winning. However, he is confident that Simbine will at least race to a top two finish. Depending on the form of the other sprinters, he might even get close to his personal best time of 9.89s.
Cornel Fredericks and LJ van Zyl (both Tuks) are competing in the 400m-hurdles tomorrow night. The two of them were involved in one of the best hurdles races seen in Doha in 2011. Van Zyl won in 48.11s which is still the meeting record with Fredericks second in 48.43s. In 2013 Fredericks finished third and Van Zyl sixth.
The two Tuks-athletes are in for a tough challenge. The race is sort of a mini-rerun of last year’s Olympic final as Kerron Clement (USA) gold medallist, Boniface Muchera (Kenya) silver medallist and Anssert Whyte (Jamaica) bronze medallist are all racing.
Fredericks who finished third in the 2014 Diamond League Race-standings admits to being slightly nervous.
“The last time I competed in a Diamond League Race was in 2014. I am excited and nervous at the same time. My main goal will be to try and run a time faster than 49.27s which is my season’s best so far.
“Luckily I have fully recovered from the lower back injury that kept me from competing at the South African Championships.”
Caster Semenya will be in action in the 800 metres.
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