Latest news with #WaydeVanNiekerk
The Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Akani Simbine snatches second; Tokyo qualifier for Wayde van Niekerk
Akani Simbine found his afterburners in time to snatch a share of second place in the 100m behind Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson of Jamaica at the Gyulai István Memorial in Budapest on Tuesday night. Earlier in the competition, 33-year-old Wayde van Niekerk achieved a world championship qualifying time as he ran his fastest 200m race in eight years. But Simbine, fourth at the Paris Olympics last year, was the man to watch a month out from the global showpiece in Tokyo. Simbine, the anchor of the 4x100m relay team that claimed silver at the 2024 Games, had a disappointing showing at the last Diamond League meet in London last month, and once again he got off to a slow start, finding himself near the back of the field. But unlike his display just more than three weeks ago, the speedster delivered his trademark top-end speed to cross the line in 10.01 to share second place with Abdul-Rasheed Saminu of Ghana. Thompson won in 9.95.
The Herald
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Akani Simbine wins over 100m again while Wayde van Niekerk ends third
Akani Simbine continued his unbeaten run over 100m in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon while Wayde van Niekerk settled for third place in the 200m in his season-opener. A strong tail wind nullified strong runs in both their races, with Simbine storming to victory in 9.86sec, well ahead of Udodi Onwuzurike of Nigeria in 10.05. The wind was measured at 2.3 metres per second. Simbine, fresh from winning gold in the 4x100m at World Relays in Guangzhou last weekend, also won the first three 100m races of his season, one in Botswana and two in the Diamond League meets in China. Van Niekerk, who hadn't competed since finishing seventh in the 200m at the Paris Olympics in August last year, started off his 2025 campaign with a seemingly respectable 20.03 over the straight 200m at the adidas Atlanta City Games. The wind was measured at 2.2mps, with Briton Zharnel Hughes taking full advantage as he won in 19.55. Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 19.63. Van Niekerk, with a 19.84 personal best from eight years ago, slowed markedly over the final stages of the race. He had beaten Richards in their only previous encounter over this distance, in the final at the 2017 world championships in London. The 32-year-old Van Niekerk, the world 400m record-holder, is unlikely to find glory in the 200m and will surely have to return to the one-lap contest if he plans on challenging for global silverware down the line.
