Akani Simbine Warns 100m Rivals to Bring Their Best at South African Championships

Akani Simbine, the reigning African 100m champion, sent a strong message to his rivals ahead of the Senior National Track and Field Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. The veteran sprinter warned the pretenders to his 100m crown that they need to be in top shape to challenge him.

On the first day of the championships, Simbine demonstrated his dominance by winning his semifinal race with a time of 10.27 seconds, despite facing a strong headwind. This was slower than his morning heat time of 10.07 seconds, which was the fastest of the session. Bayanda Walaza and Abduraghmaan Karriem won the other semifinal races.

Simbine, who holds the South African record in the 100m with a time of 9.84 seconds, is aiming to win his sixth national title in the event on Friday. He has already set a national record of 15.04 seconds in the 150m this year and will be looking to push for a sub-10-second time in the 100m final.

The race for the minor podium spots is expected to be competitive, with younger athletes like Walaza, who has an unorthodox running style, vying for a place. Other top competitors include Gift Leotlela, Benjamin Richardson, and Cheswill Johnson.

In the women's events, Viwe Jingqi won her first national title with ease in the 100m, while Glenrose Xaba finally claimed victory in the 5,000m. The men's 400m hurdles event saw a low turnout, with only 18 finishers across three heats.

Why this matters: The South African athletics championships serve as an important qualifier for international competitions, including the upcoming Paris Olympics. Simbine's performance and the emergence of young talent could have implications for South Africa's medal prospects on the global stage.

Simbine, who was disqualified in the 100m semi-finals at the 2023 World Championships, will be determined to make a strong statement early in the season as he prepares for the Paris Olympics. If he manages to dip under 10 seconds in either the semifinal or final at the Msunduzi stadium, he will become the first South African to achieve a sub-10 100m at an altitude below 1,000m.

Key Takeaways

• Akani Simbine, African 100m champion, warns rivals to be in top shape.
• Simbine wins 100m semifinal in 10.27s despite strong headwind, aims for 6th national title.
• Simbine holds SA 100m record of 9.84s, set national 150m record of 15.04s this year.
• Viwe Jingqi wins women's 100m, Glenrose Xaba claims 5,000m title at SA championships.
• SA championships serve as qualifier for Paris Olympics, Simbine aims for sub-10s 100m.