Simbine’s silver sprint performances bode well for World Championships

SOUTH AFRICAN sprinting sensation Akani Simbine is showing good form in the build-up to the IAAF World Championships in London next month, and last night he collected quality set of silver medals in the 100m and 200m in a Budapest track meet.

Simbine will again line up in the short sprint in Lausanne in two days’ time.

Running below 10 seconds for the 14th time, Simbine displayed his world-class form dipping at the line just 0.01 behind former world champion Justin Gatlin of the US, and clocking 9.99 for second place.

Gatlin’s coutryman Isaiah Young rounded off the podium in a time of 10.10, with former South African record-holder Henricho Bruintjies fourth in 10.11.

Simbine added another silver later in the evening when he finished 0.07sec behind Young in the 200m in a time of 20.21.

Long jumper Ruswahl Samaai leapt to victory in a new meet record of 8.34m ahead of Olympic champion Jeff Henderson of the US who had a best attempt of 8.18m. Beijing Olympic silver medallist Khotso Mokoena produced a best leap of 7.95m for fourth.

Samaai’s personal best of 8.49m is still the second best jump this season behind pace-setting compatriot Luvo Manyonga, with 8.65m.

South African women’s 100m record-holder Carina Horn finished fourth in her specialist event, clocking 11.21, with Alyssa Conley finishing two places adrift with a season’s best of 11.41.

Nigerian Blessing Okagbare raced to victory in a time of 11.11.

Long jumper Lynique Prinsloo wrapped up the evening in sixth place with her 6.34m, with American Tianna Bartoletta taking the spoils with 6.79m.

SA’s 400m hurdles ace Wenda Nel was slightly off the pace, finishing sixth with a time of 55.83.

Antonio Alkana, SA 110m hurdles record-holder, continued his consistent good form by posting a time of 13.31 for a fifthplace finish.