[LOOK] Akani Simbine seals SA title No.6
|Published
Champ: Akani Simbine over 100m
Akani Simbine claimed the 100m title on Thursday at the first day of the SA Athletics Championships in Potchefstroom.
Simbine claimed his sixth national title in a time of 10.15 seconds, holding off youngster Benjamin Richardson, who blasted out of the blocks before being pipped with a time of 10.27.
Rivaldo Roberts came home third win a time of 10.36 ahead of Western Province’s Abduragmaan Karriem in 10.43
Akani Simbine successfully defended his SA title with a winning time of 10:14. Having qualified for the World Athletics Championships in the Heats and Semi finals running 9.99secs and 9.93secs respectively, Simbine secures he’s 5th national title over the 100m. pic.twitter.com/yLXDvVthYp
— Athletics_SA (@AthleticsSA_) March 30, 2023
Back at the tournament for the first time after two injury-hit years, Wayde van Niekerk on Thursday cruised into the 400m final.
The world-record holder won his heat with a time of 46.01 seconds and will look to put the hammer down in Saturday’s 3.10pm final, with U20 world champion Lythe Pillay sure to give him a push after the youngster won his heat in 45.95.
South Africa's most accomplished track and field athletes will have to hold off a pack of rising young stars at the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships.
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) March 29, 2023
Van Niekerk tells SuperSport of his first run: “It’s was comfortable.
“It’s nice to back on the track and competing with the best in South Africa.
“Hopefully I can put in a good performance.”
Meanwhile, ASA said in a statement that it would be seeking legal advice on new World Athletics rulings affecting DSD athlete Caster Semenya, who is a doubt for this weekend’s women’s 5 000m event.