In-form sprinter Akani Simbine targets quicker times ahead of World Champs
Simbine is the fastest man in the world this year after clocking 9.90 in the 100m sprint in Gaborone last month.
Akani Simbine (left) holds off a challenge from Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson on his way to victory in the 100m race at the Shanghai Diamond League in China last week. Picture: Jiang Han/Xinhua/AFP
Having opened his season in explosive fashion, experienced sprinter Akani Simbine has fired a warning at his opposition, claiming he will go even quicker this year.
After securing the bronze medal in the 60m final on debut at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in March, 31-year-old Simbine went on to win all three of his 100m races thus far in the international outdoor campaign, including the first two legs of the top-flight Diamond League series in China.
Simbine is also the fastest man in the world this year after clocking 9.90 at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in Gaborone earlier this month.
He admitted on Tuesday, however, that he would need to go quicker later this year if he hoped to secure a medal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
But the consistent speedster believed he would again be ready to challenge for a podium place, as he had done at almost every major global championship for the last decade (though he remained without an individual outdoor medal).
'I'm running well for the beginning of the season, but this is not a peak or anything. It's only May and I'm not meant to be running 9.7 or 9.8 now,' Simbine said.
'That doesn't make sense in wanting to make sure we're at our best in September.'
Chasing medal at World Relays
Meanwhile, Simbine was eager to anchor the national 4x100m relay team at the World Athletics Relays championship in Guangzhou this weekend.
Having led the SA quartet to the silver medal at last year's Paris Olympics, he believed they could challenge for the podium again with a squad that featured 19-year-old Bayanda Walaza and 20-year-old Bradley Nkoana, who also formed part of the team that stepped on the podium in the French capital.
Simbine felt the national squad could also put up a fight in the men's 4x400m relay this weekend – anchored by in-form athlete Zakithi Nene – as they did when they secured silver at the World Relays in Bahamas last year.
'We have two strong teams in the 4x100m relay – with the young guys who are showing a lot of form coming off our national championships – as well as the 4x400m guys,' Simbine said.
'So I think that's the two events Team SA are most looking forward to and trying to make sure the guys bring something back for South Africa.'
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