Africa’s fastest man, Akani Simbine opens 2018 season
Akani Simbine will start his 2018 season at the second of three Athletix Grand Prix meetings.
The fastest man in Africa, Akani Simbine will start his 2018 season on March 8 at the second of three Athletix Grand Prix meetings at the Bestmed Tuks Stadium in Pretoria.
Simbine firmly secured the title of ‘fastest man in Africa’ in 2016 when he clocked 9.89sec in the 100m in Hungary. Fast times, however, are no longer his only driving force. Simbine wants titles and 2018 is the year in which the 24-year-old is looking to start his collection. His first target will be the gold medal in the 100m at Commonwealth Games in Australia in April this year.
The journey to chasing those titles in 2018 starts in South Africa at the Athletix Grand Prix Series at the second meeting of the series in Pretoria. He has run three of his fastest 100m times and his best 200m time at the Tuks track at the University of Pretoria.
“2017 was a disappointing year for me. I had much bigger expectations than the fifth-place finish at the World championship. I wanted a medal, but was hampered by an ongoing hip injury,” said Simbine.
“I intend to change all that in 2018 and what better place than to start at the Athletix Grand Prix meet on my home track at Tukkies?”
Tukkies has certainly seen some of the best runs by the 24-year-old. It was here that he became the first South African to do the sub 10sec, sub 20sec double in the 100m and 200m respectively when he clocked 9.93sec for the 100m and two hours later flew to a lifetime best of 19.95sec in the 200m on 4 March 2017. It was here that he ran 9.92sec, 9.95sec and 9.98sec in the 100m – his second, third and tenth fastest times, respectively.
“I train here. I like this track. It is fast and you are always guaranteed fast times,” said Simbine.
Since opening with a sub 10 in 2016, there is now an expectation on Simbine to dip the mark every time he lines up in the glamour event of Athletix.
“This is my target every time I go into the blocks. It is all about the execution. If I execute correctly, then a sub 10 is coming.”
With the Commonwealth Games taking place in April and the 100m final being run on April 9, the Athletix Grand Prix meet in Tshwane on March 8 is the perfect race for Simbine to make a statement to his opponents who will be lining up against him in Australia.
“If I want to win titles I need to dominate and if I want to dominate then I need to do that from the very first race. Doing that in front of my home crowd on a track that I know and love is the perfect place to start.”
Ominous words for his rivals and exciting words for his supporters that will be able to witness the action first-hand. They are guaranteed a show from the fastest man in Africa.
Athletix Grand Prix Series:
March 1, Ruimsig Stadium, Johannesburg.
March 8, Bestmed Tuks Stadium, Tshwane.
March 22, Dal Josafat Stadium, Paarl.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
