Akani Simbine shatters South Africa's 100m record
Akani Simbine set a perfect evening in Tshwane on fire on Tuesday with a blazing new National Record as sprinters stole the show in the first leg of the inaugural Athletics South Africa Night Series at Pilditch Stadium.
Simbine won the Men's 100m race in 9.96 seconds, breaking the SA record of 9.97 which he and compatriot Henricho Bruintjies set last year.
“It's an amazing feeling. It's my first race of the season so I'm surprised with my shape, but I'm excited about where I am now,” Simbine said. “I just hope I can continue to build on this achievement.
“I have been working hard to achieve what I have this evening and I never stopped since setting the joint record last year.
“But I have a lot of work to do still. I'm still planning to do everything I need to, to prepare for the SA Championships in Stellenbosch in April and the international season. So my season will not change.
“This superb start to my season is a beginning of lengthy build-up towards the Rio Olympics in August, as part of that, I have to miss the IAAF Indoors Championships as I pursue a different programme that I had already committed to.”
In the Women's 100m sprint, Carina Horn secured victory in 11.23 secs, holding off a challenge from Alyssa Conley, who finished second in 11.29, smashing her Personal Best performance by 0.22.
The two speedsters have achieved the 100m qualifying standard for the Rio Games.
Conley went one better in the Women’s 200m event, stunning a field which included World Student Games 400m champion, Justine Palframan and one-lap hurdles specialist, Wenda Nel.
Her performances gave a clear indication that Conley is set to enjoy a breakthrough season in an attempt to narrow the gap on Horn, the joint national record holder in the shorter sprint.
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In the Men’s 400m, Thapelo Phora, who will turn out in the Men's 4x400m relay at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland next week, improved his career record by 0.27 to win the one-lap race in 45.64.
Distance runner Irvette van Zyl, also shattered her Personal Best by more than 16 seconds in the Women's 3000m race, crossing the line in 9:11.51 as she again displayed fine form ahead of her Olympic qualifying attempt at the London Marathon in April.
Shot Put giant, Orazio Cremona got his season off to a positive start, bouncing back from a groin injury to win his specialist event with a best heave of 20.05m.
ASA President, Aleck Skhosana, was elated by the evening and beyond words.
“This has been tremendous statement made by the sport of Athletics, that ASA together with Athletes and Coaches, know what we are doing.
“We filled the grandstands and the supporters of the sport got their money’s worth.
“Congratulations to all Athletes and the Local Organising Committee! We now look forward to the second leg of the Track and Field Series, which goes to Cape Town on March 22, which I believe will again be exciting.”