SA’s slew of top sprinters gun for national records

GET ready for South Africa’s sprint revolution — Akani Simbine and Anaso Jobodwana are expected to win their first titles at the senior national championships in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

Simbine, who delivered the storming finish to SA’s fourthplaced 4x100m relay team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, is the favourite for the 100m.

US-based Jobodwana, a finalist at the 2012 Olympics and 2013 world championships, should be peerless in the 200m.

Despite South Africa’s mushrooming talent, injuries and the selection of races have conspired to eliminate some top sprint rivals on Friday and Saturday. Among those missing are Simon Magakwe, the 100m defending champion, and USbased Ncinci Titi, last year’s 200m victor. Henrico Bruintjies, a member of the SA relay team, is also out.

Wayde van Niekerk will skip the 200m to focus on the 400m, while Jobodwana, returning from a lengthy injury lay-off, is staying away from the 100m for PEERLESS: Anaso Jobodwana will only compete in the 200m contest the moment. Simbine is not doing the 200m.

“Last year I did 57 races by the end of the SA season,” said Simbine, who will go head-tohead against Van Niekerk in the 200m at the SA student championships the following weekend.

“It was too much. This year we are looking at 18 races before I go to Europe,” Simbine said.

But he is upbeat about SA’s chances if they can get a fully fit relay team to the Olympics next year. “It’s a medal for sure.” There has been much speculation that both Simbine and Jobodwana could break the 9.98sec and 20.11 SA records at the weekend.

But the weather will have to play ball — a strong southeaster would scupper any chances.

“The plan is just to get the title,” said Simbine.

Jobodwana is playing down his chances.

“I don’t really have any set goals yet,” he said from the US.

“I haven’t run in a while so I’m just trying to find my rhythm again and I’ll adjust my mental side of setting goals as the season progresses.”

The sprints are not the only area where SA will be missing stars — injuries have pushed out Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles champion Cornel Fredericks and long-jump silver medallist Zarck Visser.