He just jogged out of the blocks and with the rest of the field running their hearts out, it seemed odd that Wayde van Niekerk was not leading the 400m final from the start at the South African National Athletics Championships in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
But it was all deliberate, as the 2015 world champion tried out a different strategy to get around a niggling back problem and a few other issues.
With the crowd slowly rising in the grandstand as the runners went around the final bend and entered the home straight, Van Niekerk put the foot on the gas to win by nearly a second over runner-up Shaun de Jager in a time of 44.98, with De Jager taking the silver in 45.90.
It wasn’t vintage Van Niekerk, but the Coetzenburg crowd showed their appreciation by cheering on the 23-year-old. And at least it was a sub-44 second time.
“I was struggling with my last 200 in the heats and in the semi-finals, so I tried to use a different approach today so that I can finish my event stronger. I had a few challenges this weekend, obviously physically and emotionally,” said the Free State athlete, who was born and grew up in Kraaifontein.
“I had a bit of tightness in my back and hamstring, so it was quite difficult for me to decide which technique or strategy I should use for the race.
“Having one of my best friends, after the 100m yesterday who got hurt was Akani (Simbine) and it was really difficult to see him get hurt. We feed off one another in the sport and it’s something that’s not nice, to see your best friend get hurt.
“But I used it to motivate me today. Seeing my family in the crowd all sitting together, knowing that I brought them all together today was something very amazing. Obviously the amazing support I get in my country and in the Western Cape, has always been a highlight for me to come and visit here.”
With the SA title champs out of the way, Van Niekerk is gearing up for bigger and better things all the way to the Rio Olympics in August. And one of the key steps in that journey is his June training camp in Jamaica, where he and Simbine will work with Usain Bolt’s coach Glen Mills and their sprinters’ group.
While Van Niekerk won’t be running any 100m races this year, as he will only do the 400m at the Olympics, he is also an excellent 200m runner, and any improvement in his shorter sprint times will assist him in his quest to break Michael Johnson’s 400m world record of 43.18.
Van Niekerk’s SA record is 43.48, which he set when winning gold at the world championships in Beijing last year.
“(Glen Mills) invited us during the last European season, and I mean, to be the best, you’ve got to be among the best – try and learn from them and pick up their habits and their training techniques. That would be a great way for me to improve myself as an athlete, and hopefully they can learn a few things from me as well, and we pick off one another,” he said.
“This is all about growth and trying to be up there with Usain Bolt and with the best in the world. So, being around them will, I think, be a great difference working up to Rio. I can learn confidence techniques, calming techniques, whichever else.
“We were first surprised that such a great coach (Mills) was coming amongst us, but we have to accept the fact that we are up there with the best in the world. I’ve also got a great coach myself (74-year-old Anna ‘Tannie Ans’ Botha), and I’m seen so many other great athletes out there crediting her.”
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