With all the attention focused of Zakithi Nene’s blistering world lead of 43.76 to take gold in the 400m at at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on Saturday, there were also podium finishes for Bayanda Walaza in the 100m and Shaun Maswanganyi in the men’s 200m contest.
The achievements marked another stellar weekend for South African sprinters.
Nene was the best of the SA athletes on the international track and field circuit this weekend. He became the second SA athlete to run under 44 seconds over the one-lap distance after world record holder Wayde van Niekerk.
Nene finished well clear of Nigerian athlete Chidi Okezie, who took second place in 44.98. All eyes will be on the one-lap star as he heads for the Rome Diamond League meeting, to see if he can repeat the feat.
Junior record holder Walaza also impressed in the men’s 100m race in Nairobi, though he had to settle for the runner-up spot. He got off to a good start but the athletes were called back by the starter, and though there were no disqualifications for a false start, they were made to go again and this time Walaza looked a little hesitant out of the blocks the second time.
He nonetheless delivered another impressive result, crossing the finish line in 10.03, with Lachlan Kennedy of Australia securing top spot in 9.98.
Maswanganyi failed to hold off the charge of Liberian athlete Joseph Fahnbulleh in the 200m, who triumphed in 20.40. He took second place in a season’s best 20.47. Fellow SA sprinter Sinesipho Dambile withdrew ahead of the race.
Later in the programme, Maswanganyi went on to finish fourth in the 100m race in 10.24.
Meanwhile, on Friday night, Mondray Barnard took second position in the 110m hurdles at the Irena Szewinska Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour meeting in Bydgoszcz. He clocked 13.49, with Belgian athlete Elie Bacari taking the win in 13.43.
The fact that the in-form Akani Simbine, who is unbeaten over 100m this year and boasts the world-leading time, did not even feature at the weekend speaks volumes for SA’s abundance of sprinting talent. Simbine is also not scheduled to compete in Rome.
