Simbine among the heirs to Bolt’s throne
GOAL IS TO RUN MORE SUB-10 TIMES
WITH the imminent retirement of Usain Bolt, SA 100m record holder Akani Simbine counts himself among the new generation of sprinters able to claim the podium over the shorter sprints.
Already, Simbine – who turns 23 later this month – has established himself as the king of sub-10sec runs, having breached the barrier six times so far in his career.
The Tuks Athletics Club runner is also gradually threatening the 20-second magical mark in the 200m.
“The world champs competition will be hyped up with the old ones [stars] going out and new ones coming in. And as the new ones, we want to show that we are actually the ones to stand on the podium. Everybody is saying we can actually run fast and compete with the best in the world,” said Simbine, who finished fifth in the Rio Olympics 100m final that was won by Bolt last month.
He added: “My goal is to run sub-10 all the time. I have established myself as a sub-10 runner now. The sub-20 was supposed to happen this year but, as they say, good things come to those who wait.
“I have learnt how to do it, it’s just a matter of keeping my cool and getting the job done. I know my body can go faster.”
It is interesting that, in improving his new SA record time of 9.89sec at a meeting in Hungary in July, Simbine beat his one-time idol Asafa Powell, the Jamaican who is closing in on his 100th career sub-10.
Simbine attributed some of his improvements to Bolt’s and Powell’s coach Glen Mills, who he spent two weeks with during a training camp in the Caribbean prior to the Olympics.
World Student Games champion Simbine said he has received a positive feedback from Mills.
“He is very excited. I got an email from him after I ran a 9.89sec [in Hungary in July]. He said he knew that I could run fast and be dominant in the sprinting world.”
While many are focusing on Simbine’s record-breaking spree, his coach Werner Prinsloo said their immediate target was a medal.
“I don’t think we should look at the times. He is in a good shape now to medal in most of his events.
“We are looking at major competition going forward – world champs next year [in London] and the Commonwealth the Games coming up in two years’ time [in Australia]. If the times are good, it’s a bonus,” said Prinsloo.