He lost out in the 100-metre sprint, but Wayde van Niekerk proved his class once more to ease to the 200m title at the SA Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
Van Niekerk produced a new personal best of 19.90 seconds, which was just 0.03 off the South African record of 19.87 by Anaso Jobodwana – who did not recover from his cramping that ruled him out of the 100m on Friday night.
Van Niekerk was quick out of the blocks, which was in contrast to his friend and main rival Akani Simbine, who blitzed the 100m field on Friday night to win the title in 9.95.
Simbine stumbled a bit at the start of the 200m race on Saturday afternoon at the McArthur Stadium, and that was all Van Niekerk needed to get ahead of the field.
Youngster Gift Leotlela, though, ran a strong bend to remain in contention for victory as they top four entered the home straight.
But Van Niekerk kept on sauntering away from the rest, with Simbine also coming back well to take second place.
Such was the gap between the front two, though, that Olympic 400m champion Van Niekerk slowed down in the final 15m to cruise over the line.
The fact that he still registered a new personal best of 19.90 shows that he could’ve set a new SA mark if he really wanted to.
But with the local season out of the way, Van Niekerk will compete overseas in the coming months, and is sure to go even faster ahead of the IAAF world championships in London in August.
Simbine will be satisfied that he at least came second, but his time of 20.15 was a bit disappointing by his high standards, considering that he ran a PB of 19.95 earlier this year.
Leotlela came third in 20.20, ahead of teenager Clarence Munyai in fourth with 20.25.