SEB MUST BE SUBLIME ONCE MORE IN PORTUGAL
WHEN the South African team broke the national men’s 4x100m relay record at the 2019 world championships, it was the eighth-fastest time in history.
The 37.65 seconds performance produced by Thando Dlodlo, Simon Magakwe, Clarence Munyai and Akani Simbine in Doha came in the semi-final, and was just 0.81 seconds off Jamaica’s incredible world record of 36.84.
Unfortunately, a mistake in changing the baton saw SA miss out on a medal in the final as they finished fifth in 37.73, with the USA taking the gold in 37.10.
Coach Paul Gorries is determined to see his team make-up for that disappointment at the Tokyo Olympics later this year, and that process will begin at the World Relays in Silesia, Poland tonight.
This time around, Team SA are as strong, with the 34-year-old Magakwe not part of the group, and he is likely to be replaced by the 22-year-old Gift Leotlela, along Simbine, Munyai and Dlodlo. The other squad members are Luxolo Adams and Emile Erasmus, with former SA 100m record-holder Henricho Bruintjies still injured.
With major athletics nations such as Jamaica, Australia, USA, Great Britain, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago all opting to withdraw from the event due to Covid-19 travel protocols, South Africa are serious contenders for the gold medal, with their main rivals likely to be Brazil and Italy.
While SA have already qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, the World Relays is about fine-tuning their plan before the international season begins.
“I’m just excited to see what we can do as a team for the country, because we’ve been preparing for this time. Even with other teams that had been withdrawing were there, we’ve always had a great chance to win a medal – as long as we get the job done and get the baton exchanged correctly,” team captain Simbine said in an Athletics SA press release.
Both Munyai and Dlodlo stated that South Africa can claim a gold medal, while Leotlela was thrilled to be part of the team after being held back by injuries in recent seasons.
The 4x100m heats will take place tonight at 8.39pm SA time, with the final tomorrow night at 7.35pm.
The men’s 4x400m relay team also have an attainable goal in Silesia – to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. While they are missing world recordholder Wayde van Niekerk, recently crowned national champion Zakithi Nene is part of the group, along with junior star Lythe Pillay, who has the quickest time in the squad of 45.53, fractionally ahead of Nene in 45.54.
Berend Koekemoer’s season’s best stands at 45.58, and Oscar Mavundla is not far behind either at 45.69.
All the 4x400m group need to do to qualify for the Olympics is reach the final in Poland, with the heats taking place tonight at 7.35pm. The final is scheduled for tomorrow night at 8.42pm.
There is also a mixed 4x400m relay team – which includes SA women’s champion in the one-lap event, Deline Mpiti – who will try to qualify for Tokyo as well.
SA RELAY TEAMS
4x100m: Akani Simbine, Clarence Munyai, Thando Dlodlo, Luxolo Adams, Gift Leotlela, Emile Erasmus
4x400m: Lythe Pillay, Berend Koekemoer, Zakithi Nene, Oscar Mavundla, Ranti Dikgale.
Mixed 4x400m: Simon Khuzwayo, Ranti Dikgale, Taylon Bieldt, Marli Viljoen, Deline Mpiti.
THIS weekend sees the continuation of the battle between Mercedes and Red Bull at the Portuguese GP, so strap yourself in for an almighty clash between the two current heavyweights of Formula One.
Here we look at a handful of highlights, and a concern, that could define the race at the Algarve International Circuit, colloquially known as Portimão.
Checo must find control
Red Bulls' Sergio Perez has not had the best of race weekends in the two GPS thus far, despite qualifying strongly in both. At the Bahrain GP he was forced to start in the pit lane, and yet managed to race to a magnificent fifth-place finish. At Imola he secured second on the grid, 0.053 seconds behind pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton, only to spin out at the Villeneuve chicane on the Sunday to drop down to P12.
Checo certainly has the pace, but that must now be translated into consistency on race day. Red Bull needs the Mexican to be in the mix up front if they are to apply maximum pressure to Mercedes and push for control of the Constructors' title. In a high-pressure environment such the Red Bull paddock, he can ill-afford to continue not performing when it matters most.
Hopefully, this weekend will belong to him.
Battle old as time
As the days of yore, Ferrari and Mclaren find themselves fighting it out amongst themselves for podium honours. It might not be the championship battle of years gone past, but it is wonderful to see the two most successful teams in F1 once again being competitive.
Ferrari, after a disastrous 2020, are stringing together some good performances with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz jun at the wheel. Meanwhile, Mclaren are fast becoming the team that can. Lando Norris is one of the drivers in form, and has secured a fourth and third-place finish in the two races so far. The Brit has been brilliant, even though his teammate Daniel Ricciardo has battled at his new outfit.
If the chips fall their way, then both teams could find themselves fighting it out for a foot on the steps of Portimão on Sunday, and that can only be a healthy development for F1.
Mercedes v Red Bull, part III
It cannot be stressed how important Max Verstappen's victory at Imola was for Red Bull and F1. It revealed a team that has all the tools and speed to take the fight to Mercedes, and this weekend will once again be a defining moment for the season.
Last year Mercedes finished 1-2, Lewis Hamilton making history in the process when he overtook Michael Schumacher's record for most GP wins – 92 of them. It shouldn't be that easy this weekend, as Red Bull certainly have the pace to grab victory, but Hamilton will be furiously pushing for victory. On a track that is fast and wide, overtaking as much as strategy could come into play as the two teams jostle for control.
Bring on another fascinating and exciting Sunday afternoon.
And that concern: Seb is nowhere
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel was positive before the season started that he could engineer something great at Aston Martin. As yet, that has not come to fruition with the German battling at his new team. This season seems to be on track to repeat 2020 with Vettel running at the back of the grid – he has only managed two 15-place finishes in the first two races.
Vettel, probably more than any other driver right now, needs a good weekend at Portimão, and another one a week later at Barcelona, to emphasise that he is not a spent force in Formula One. The RP20 is not the fastest car around, but it is certainly a top 10 contender, as evidenced by teammate Lance Stroll's outings, so Vettel needs to pull up his socks, find some form and pace, and get in there, son.