JOBODWANA
LINES UP AGAINST MLENGA
THE first man to break 20sec in the 200m in South Africa, Anaso Jobodwana, will headline the act at the first Athletix Grand Prix Meeting that will take place at the Ruimsig Stadium, Johannesburg on March 1. Jobodwana ran 19.87sec on his way to a World Championship bronze medal in 2015, in what was then a South African record.
The 200m has always been Jobodwana’s favourite race, even though he has had success in the 100m when he won the World University Games title in both events in 2013.
He has unfinished business with the 100m and wants to break the magical 10sec barrier, a feat that is easily within his reach given his 200m time.
“I know that when I break the 10sec mark, I will easily be able to beat my 200m best and reclaim the national record [19.84sec held by Wayde van Niekerk],” Jobodwana said.
“Running the 200m at the first Athletix Grand Prix Meeting fits in perfectly with my plans to get back into the shape where I am running fast again and feel comfortable doing it.
“I’m excited about running in Ruimsig. It will be good to race again and I am looking forward to seeing who will line up with me.”
One of the athletes lining up alongside him will be next generation sprinter, Retshidisitswe Mlenga.
It seems strange speaking of the next generation of sprinters in the same sentence as the likes of Jobodwana, who is only 25 years old, yet such is the depth now in South African sprinting that it is impossible to not do so.
Mlenga became the toast of the town after winning the 200m world title and the silver medal in the 100m at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Nairobi last year.
His performances will see him mix it with the big guns. This can only be of benefit to the 17year-old.
“Kenya was a big experience for me. Winning that title has given me so much more confidence,” Mlenga said.
“Now I am invited to run against the likes of Anaso, who I have looked up to for many years. It feels like I have moved onto another level.”
Jobodwana has had a string of bad luck with injuries since his World Championship bronze medal and is looking forward to running injury free this year.
With the CAA Senior African Championships taking place in August in Nigeria, Jobodwana is looking forward to having a good build-up to the championship.
“Running injury free is an amazing feeling,” Jobodwana said.
“Now I have the time to perfect my technique and at the same time run some really good, competitive races.”