JOHANNESBURG - Given the healthy state of South African track and field at the moment, this weekend’s provincial championships around the country could produce something spectacular.
Short sprint sensation Akani Simbine intimated he could uncork something special at Saturday's Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) Championships at the Tuks Stadium to give athletics supporters something to relish.
Central Gauteng, Western Province and Central North West are also hosting their provincial championships this weekend, but AGN is expected to produce the biggest fireworks show of them all.
Olympic long jump silver medallist Luvo Manyonga launched the best jump on the continent when he leapt to an impressive 8.46 metres at last week’s ASA Speed Series in Bloemfontein.
Although he overstepped his last attempt by almost two centimetres, the jump measured a mammoth 8.72 metres.
It is only a matter of time before he unleashes a legal distance of that magnitude, and rumour has it Manyonga could do exactly that when he takes off at the Tuks track.
Simbine will go toe-to-toe with defending national champion and training partner Henricho Bruintjies.
After winning Wednesday’s 200m at the ASA Speed Series meeting in Potchefstroom, Simbine hinted he could produce some magic in Pretoria in the short sprint.
Asked what time he expected to run at the AGN championships, Simbine said: “Just come, I will make it worth it.”