It’s no lie, Wayde is fighting the good and evil at World Champs
LONDON: Coasting into the 400m final to give himself a chance at a title defence, Wayde van Niekerk admitted to having to fight off self-doubt but believed his positive mindset would prevail ahead of tomorrow’s crucial race at the IAAF World Championships in London.
The South African was in fine form as he preserved his energy in his heat, racing to victory in the second fastest time of the semi-finals by clocking 44.22 seconds yesterday.
There is no rest for the wicked as the South African will be hoping for a good recovery overnight, before he lines up in tonight’s 200m heats.
“I’m giving myself a tough time, I won’t lie to you, there are so many doubts but at the same time belief, so it is good and evil fighting in my mind,” Van Niekerk said.
“But I will pull through, I always do, and it is a competition we need to go through to be the best and I’m (up) for it.”
Van Niekerk was initially drawn into the first semi-final but a re-draw saw the South African backing into the blocks in the second 400m race.
“I’m glad I was taken out of the first race because that heat looked a bit crazy so that was a bit of a blessing,” Van Niekerk said.
Southern Africa will be well represented in the final after Baboloki Thebe of Botswana finished behind Van Niekerk with a time of 44.33.
Moving in the final straight Thebe held a slight lead over the South African, but Van Niekerk moved up another gear as he glanced at the Botswana athlete before dipping first.
“It was good and obviously I have to be conservative with all the rounds of running I have ahead of me,,” Van Niekerk said.
Earlier, South African women’s 100m record-holder Carina Horn was knocked out of her semi-final finishing sixth in her race with a time 11.26 seconds.
“I was hoping for a better time but I can do nothing about that, my goal was to reach the final or breaking the SA record,” Horn said.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s top 110m hurdler Antonio Alkana suffered a similar fate, crossing the line in fourth place in his semi-final clocking 13.59.