SUPERVAN TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
The Bolt era is all but over and athletics is crying out for a new hero.. this sounds like a job for..
WAYDE VAN NIEKERK, the man who would be king, makes his play for Usain Bolt’s throne tonight.
time? What he did in Rio I couldn’t believe.”
By which Black does not mean he questioned the legitimacy of the performance, which has become the default position in the current climate.
He said: “I understand anybody questioning any performance, we know the history of the sport. But I believe in this guy.
“I think it’s his build. Most people recognise they’re watching one of the most perfectly designed, beautiful runners of all time.”
Black is on record describing Van Niekerk as the “most 8.02PM – European champion Dina Asher-Smith starts her tilt at the 200m in heat five. 9.35PM – Kyle Langford goes in 800m final, having qualified fifth quickest. 9.50PM – Wayde van Niekerk defends his 400m title in what promises to be the race of the champs. complete sprinter of all time”, which is quite a statement.
The Capetonian’s numbers are extraordinary. He has run the 100m faster this year than Bolt (9.4secs) and taken Johnson’s 300m world record.
Black said: “Breaking 10 ( for the 100m), 20 (200m) and 44 probably soon to be 43 (400) is incredible. No one has ever done that. The most significant is breaking 10.
“Most 100m runners don’t take on the 400, because it hurts. It’s why Bolt didn’t.
“Wayde is sailing through in sub-10, and going through 200 in 20 something. It’s a jog for the man, nothing. His speed endurance is something else.”
The debate over whether Van Niekerk can fill Bolt’s shoes inevitably involves personality.
The South African is naturally quiet, but last night his charisma shone through.
Locked in a battle down the straight with Danny Talbot, who ran a lifetime best 20.16, the pair traded smiles as Bolt so often did with opponents.
Wayde looks increasingly like athletics’ best bet.
The fastest quarter-miler in history has been backed by Bolt to succeed him as track and field’s headline act.
Shortly before 10pm all eyes will be on the London Stadium to see what all the fuss is about.
In Rio last summer the South African not only became Olympic champion in the 400 metres, he smashed Michael Johnson’s 17-year-old world record with a time of 43.03 seconds from the outside lane.
“He’s that good that if he crosses the line first and breaks 43 seconds none of us are going to be surprised,” said Roger Black, Olympic silver medallist behind Johnson in 1996.
Van Niekerk, who sailed through the 200m heats last night, is white-hot favourite – not least as world No.2 Isaac Makwala is struggling to shake off food poisoning.
Black added: “If he can break that world record from lane eight what might he do this