JOHANNESBURG - Judging by a solid 100-200m run over the weekend, Anaso Jobodwana has risen from the ashes of a rather forgetful 2017 season.
The 2015 world 200m bronze medallist clocked a season’s best of 10.16 seconds in the 100m and a wind-aided 20.10sec in the half-lap sprint at an Athletics Gauteng North meeting in Pretoria on Saturday.
Jobodwana had his characteristic glide back as he first raced to victory in the 200m with a 3.3 m/s tailwind helping him along.
The time may not be legal, but it would still stand as the fastest time ever posted in November, in any conditions.
The sprinter with a friendly disposition seems to have his swagger back after his confidence had taken serious knocks after an injury plagued 2016 and a below-par 2017.
An hour and a half after his 200m flyer, Jobodwana won the 100m race, which included South African long-jumper Zarck Visser.
Jobodwana crossed the line with the fourth fastest 100m time of his career, with Visser following in third with 10.68s.
“I am happy, I was so nervous coming here, so to put all the phases together was good,” Jobodwana said.
“To run 20.11 in November is more than enough for me at the moment. I went back to the drawing board and looked what I had learned from the season, and got myself mentally ready.”
Great way to start my 1 year anniversary or else @CantbTAYmed would've told me told me to walk home 😂😂 10.16 , 20.10(w)(A) pic.twitter.com/wKrEeaLRkM
— Anaso 'HELL YEAH KINFOLK'Jobodwana (@_ambitious_jay) November 11, 2017
After missing out on the IAAF World Championships and seeing Wayde van Niekerk break his SA 200m record, Jobodwana was hellbent on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Based in Durban, Jobodwana would have to make a regular commute to Gauteng where there are races for him to post fast times.
“If there are meets here I am definitely coming because this is where the best competition is, I just want to be where all the great athletes are, so I can test myself,” Jobodwana said.
“Durban is a good place to train, but the competition is up here (Gauteng).”
Jobodwana had a 200m season’s best time of 20.62 from Hengelo in June and a 10.19 in the 100m he posted at the SA Senior Championships in Potchefstroom in April.