Van Niekerk wins on return, says ‘almost forgot how to race’
SOUTH Africa’s Olympic 00m champion and world record holder Wayde van Niekerk returned from injury on the international stage with a victory.
He won at the 10th edition of the Gala dei Castelli in Bellinzona, Switzerland, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meeting, on Tuesday which was his first competitive race outside his homeland since taking gold at the 201 World Championships in London.
Van Niekerk clocked 5.58 seconds on Tuesday, a modest time compared with his world record of .0 .
“Back at it Forgot how to race for a moment,” he posted on social media.
Van Niekerk made a comeback in his first race outside of South Africa since the 201 World Championships in London. The world recordholder started slow, running fifth going into the final bend.
But he clawed his way back to take the win in 5.58 ahead of Dutchman Jochem Dobber ( 5. 8) and Poland’s Karol Zalewski ( 6.0 ).
“The race was challenging,” van Niekerk said. “The guys went out from the beginning and I had to stick with them. The 00m is where I belong and I showed that I am still around.”
Van Niekerk had tested positive for COVID-19 in early August and said he then remained isolated for 25 days. “Basically I started from scratch.”
His compatriot Akani Simbine, who was fourth over 100m at last year’s World Championships, won his third 100m race this summer in 10.02 into a slight -0.2 m s headwind holding off Italian record holder and world finalist Filippo Tortu, whose 10.0 was the fastest by a European this year. Simbine, who clocked 9.91 in March, and Tortu will clash again in Rome on Thursday.
An eagerly-awaited win by local star Ajla Del Ponte and Olympic 00m champion Wayde van Niekerk’s first international appearance since 201 were the key highlights of Tuesday’s athletics meeting.
Del Ponte’s 11.18 victory crowned an impressive season in which she won Wanda Diamond League races in Monte Carlo and Stockholm. World U20 bronze medallist Kristal Awuah finished second in 11. ahead of 200m European U20 champion Amy Hunt (11. 1) and former
world 200m champion Dafne Schippers (11. 2).
“It was completely different to win at home in front of my fans, who gave me a lot of energy,” Del Ponte said. “This does not happen every day. My first coach was here. If I keep the energy from today’s competition, Rome is going to be another nice race.” (inputs worldathletics.org) nn s ash s orw gian r ord
Norway’s Hedda Hynne claimed her second consecutive win in a high-quality women’s 800m race in 1:58.10, a world lead.
Hynne also broke the national record for the second time in seven days after her 1:59.15 in Rovereto. Four women dipped under 1:59 with Swiss record holder Selina Buchel second with 1:58. , one day before her wedding. She held off fresh Swiss champion Lore Hoffman whose 1:58.50 made her the second fastest Swiss ever.