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Our sprinters have been clocking fast times lately, but a closer look shows that they are still slightly slower than Olympic and World Championships medal times, writes Daniel Mothowagae
No South African has won a short-sprint medal since readmission, but that might be about to change, as three of our sprinters have now run the 100m in less than 10 seconds and Wayde van Niekerk even claimed the 400m continental record – albeit briefly.
Nevertheless, they are still some way off what it takes to be the best in the world, especially at Olympic or world championships level.
The new generation of sprinters has managed to challenge the world’s fastest men over the 100m, with Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies among the newest members of the exclusive sub-10-seconds club.
The duo, together with the banned Simon Magakwe, ranks in the top 100 of the all-time list of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) over the 100m, an event that is dominated by Americans and Jamaicans.
Simbine and Bruintjies – both 21 and joint South African 100m record holders – have each clocked a personal best of 9.97 seconds this year.
But in breaking the 10-second barrier, their marks still fall short of medal territory when compared with Jamaican Usain Bolt’s Olympic-winning and world short-sprint-title times.
In comparison, Van Niekerk is in a class of his own – and athletics experts tip him as a sure bet to deliver the elusive sprint medal at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, next month.
There is good reason for the country to hope the 22-year-old University of the Free State marketing student can make history.
His personal best of 43.96 equates to silver medal times at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2013 world champs – and gold at the 2011 global championships.
Van Niekerk is among just three athletes to run sub-44 in one lap so far this year. Others are Botswana’s Isaac Makwala (43.72) and reigning Olympic champion Kirani James (43.95) of Grenada.
Last Saturday, Van Niekerk’s 43.96 winning time at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in France broke the African record, but Makwala reclaimed it during a different race in less than 24 hours with a 43.72 run.
Van Niekerk’s win over James in Paris last Saturday was the second time in a month that he broke the national record. He clocked 44.24 seconds to win the New York leg of the Diamond League on June 13.
Sprint coach Eugene Thipe said: “There is no doubt that Wayde is our medal prospect in Beijing.”
Thipe became the first local coach to guide a sprinter to a sub-10 time on these shores with Magakwe’s 9.98 seconds last year.
“If we can work together as coaches in South Africa, it is possible for our sprinters to run Bolt’s fast times. When talking about sprint communities in the world, our country has equally talented sprinters,” he said.
Thipe said the current sprint times would guarantee South African sprinters a place in the final at the world championships. “If our boys maintain their current form, Wayde is going to win a gold medal in China. He knows how to relax under pressure; he’s tall with long legs – that’s his strength,” he said.
Former SA 200m record holder Morné Nagel also tipped Van Niekerk as a medal contender.
“To have a chance at a medal [in the 100m] you will have to look at sub-9.90,” said Nagel, whose 13-year national mark of 20.11 seconds was lowered by Anaso Jobodwana to 20.04 in May.
“At the moment, only Wayde has a very good chance at a medal in the sprints,” added Nagel, who, together with Corné du Plessis, Lee-Roy Newton and Mathew Quinn won the 4x100m relay silver medal at the 2001 world championships. South Africa was elevated to gold after the US team was disqualified a few years later.
Quinn said: “Realistically, Wayde is a medal contender. If the 100m boys produce the goods, they could make the final. I think Akani will make the final. Anaso will also make the final, with the chance of a medal in the 200m.”
Jobodwana – with a season best of 20.04 – reached the 200m final at the Moscow world championships and the 2012 Olympics in London.
Quinn also predicted a medal for the 4x100m relay.
