Van Niekerk-Gatlin in Brussels showdown
Wayde van Niekerk could go out in a blaze of glory when participates in his final race for the year at the IAAF Diamond League’s Memorial Van Damme meeting in Brussels, Belguim, on Friday evening.
South Africa’s world 400m champion has entered the 200m and will line-up alongside American Justin Gatlin who will be having a tilt at both sprints in the space of one hour. Only the 100m will be a Diamond Race at the League’s final 2015 meet.
The event would have lost a touch of appeal as world 100 and 200m champion Usain Bolt withdrew from the tournament in the Belgian capital. He was meant to run in his favourite event, the 200m.
Gatlin will be up against another South African, Akani Simbine in the 100m. There was talk of another SA sprinter running, but Anaso Jobodwana’s name did not feature on Thursday’s provisional 200m entry list.
The event would have lost a touch of appeal as world 100 and 200m champion Usain Bolt withdrew from the tournament in the Belgian capital. He was meant to run in his favourite event, the 200m.
Gatlin will be up against another South African, Akani Simbine in the 100m. There was talk of another SA sprinter running, but Anaso Jobodwana’s name did not feature on Thursday’s provisional 200m entry list.
SA 400m hurdles champion LJ Van Zyl has entered and has promised to do his newly-born son proud. He became a first-time father on Monday.
ANA