I’m glad I could execute on the track, says Wayde van Niekerk after beating Akani Simbine

By Ashfak Mohamed Mar 30, 2021

And whereas Simbine was understandably pulling up a bit in direction of the tip, Van Niekerk was nonetheless working exhausting – and pumped his fists just a few occasions in triumph, having additionally negotiated some mild rain that started falling a couple of minutes earlier.

“I’m very grateful for the race. That is what I would like – I haven’t been working in opposition to high quality, high quality athletes shortly. So, I’m actually grateful that I get to compete once more. I imply, that is principally the perfect within the nation in the intervening time, so it was an actual blessing to be right here at present,” the 400m Olympic champion and world record-holder informed SABC Sport in a track-side TV interview instantly after the race.

Belief the method.

I’m constructing on one thing utterly completely different. @adidas @adidasrunning @audisouthafrica @Discovery_SA @Richard_Mille #Fifteen27 #TimeToRoar pic.twitter.com/gwInDUDcn9

— Wayde van Niekerk (@WaydeDreamer) March 30, 2021

“(The time) It’s wonderful. I’ve skilled very exhausting – I’ve put in all of the exhausting work at coaching. However it’s a completely different factor to execute on the observe, so I’m glad that I did it right here at present.”

Simbine wasn’t far behind, and completed second in 20.29, with Tsebo Matsoso third in 20.48. Former world bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana resulted in seventh place with 20.74, behind Botswana 400m star Isaac Makwala (20.59).

Van Niekerk added that he was undecided about whether or not he’ll take part within the nationwide championships from April 15-17 in Pretoria, as he awaits clearance paperwork to journey to the US, the place he’ll be part of the coaching group of 200m world champion Noah Lyles in Florida forward of the worldwide season and the Tokyo Olympics.

“It’s nonetheless not sure – as you realize, I’m making a transfer to the US, so whichever date comes first, I’ll attend to it,” he mentioned.

“It’s going to be the standard Wayde as we all know it (this season) – the aim is clearly the 400 metres, however I’m going to put money into each occasion that I can.

“I feel it’s a course of (to make use of his 200m tempo within the 400m race) to be fairly affected person with proper now. It’s a course of I must respect. This was a optimistic step ahead, and I’ll positively use this as momentum (going) ahead.”

Within the 400m hurdles, former world junior champion Sokwakhana Zazini confirmed that he’s intent on attending to Tokyo by posting a fast time of fifty.13.

ALSO READ: Akani Simbine dips under 10sec to run fastest 100m of 2021

It’s not far off the qualifying time of 48.90, and if the 21-year-old is ready to compete in a few worldwide races within the months to come back, he definitely has the flexibility to achieve that mark – along with his private greatest being 48.73.

Within the girls’s occasion, 2016 Olympic semi-finalist Wenda Nel acquired her season going with a victory in 56.16.

There was additionally a fierce battle within the males’s discus competitors, the place three-time African champion Victor Hogan was crushed by teen Werner Visser. Visser’s greatest effort of 60.88m secured the win forward of Hogan’s 59.07m.

Chosen Outcomes

MEN

200m

1 Wayde van Niekerk 20.10

2 Akani Simbine 20.29

3 Tsebo Matsoso 20.48

400m Hurdles

1 Sokwakhana Zazini 50.13

2 Lindukuhle Gora 50.80

3 Le Roux Hamman 50.98

Discus

1 Werner Visser 60.88m

2 Victor Hogan 59.07m

3 Ryan Williams (Namibia) 54.84m

WOMEN

200m

1 Beatrice Masilinga (Namibia) 22.59

2 Sherley Nekhubvi 23.29

3 Justine Palframan 23.52

400m Hurdles

1 Wenda Nel 56.16

2 Taylon Bieldt 56.26

3 Gezelle Magerman 57.39

@ashfakmohamed

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