Simbine strides towards sprint dream

“I was a bit nervous at the start, and it was important to get this first heat out the way,” said the South African record holder, who could make it to the final. “I simply wanted to take control of the race and ensure I made it into the semis. I was not concerned on others or times, just the win.”

Japan’s Ryota Yamagata was second in 10.20, with Canada’s Aaron Brown third but his 10.24 leaves him out of the tonights three semi finals. 

Henricho Bruintjies put it down to a bad day at the office when he finished sixth in his heat in  10.33. Yohan Blake took the honours in 10.11 with the fastest qualification of the morning going to Justin Gatlin in 10.01.

Usain Bolt almost seemed to have been left int the starting blocks in his heat, but once he got going he sleekly slid past the field clocking 10.07 and a secure effortless race was done. 

China’s Zhenye Xie ran 10.08 ran a PB to win the third heat and while he will battle to go through from the semi, he is joined in the semi’s by two Japanese athletes, which is an indication of the commencement of Asian interest not just in Athletics but throoughout the Rio Games. It is clear they have already been making headway in their preparation for the Tokyo Games in 2020, and with China, there is the talent, dedication, discipline and numbers to completely dominate the Games medal table. 

The other South African interest of the morning session was the 400m qualifications where Tsholofe Thipe looked to be heading to a third in her heat but tied up in the last 40 metres as Serbian  Tamara Salaski gained ground.  

In her anxiety to be third the 31 year old started her dip, but turned into a dive and tumble over the line for fourth in 52.80.

“This was a race where I was up against athletes that could take me to the next level,” said Thipe, “I knew I had to get third to have a chance of qualifying. Until that point I was relaxed I was watching others on the big screens as I ran.  I tied up but I wanted that third so bad.” 

Jamaican Allyson Felix took a smooth cruise from blocks to line in 51.24 while the fastest qualifying mark of the day, 50.58, came from Phyllis Francis where Justine Palframan lined up in the difficult lane 8.

Running blind on the outside Palframan was fast out of the blocks and early 150 metres, but paid the price as the bend unfolded and she dropped back.

“That was the plan to go out hard stay out infront and then to kick home,” said Palframan currently a student in Stellenbosch, but with home in Kwazulu Natal. “Obviously the kick home just did not happen.”