Wayde Van Niekerk runs 44.17 WL, his fastest time in almost six years!

Well, Wayde Van Niekerk surely is back! The two-time World Champion at 400 meters (Beijing 2015 and London 2017), and silver medalist at 200 meters (London 2017), and the Olympic gold medalist at 400 meters (Rio 2016) were injured in November 2017. The long road back from injuries seems to be over, as Van Niekerk, who trains under Coach Lance Brauman with the PURE Athletic club in Claremont, Florida, is showing world-leader fitness.

Wayde Van Niekerk is putting out a message about his fitness with his 44.17.

Wayde Van Niekerk, London 2017, photo by Mike Deering, The Shoe addicts

Van Niekerk 44.17 WL

POTCHEFSTROOM (RSA, Apr 1): Last day of the South African championships brought a rich program extended by disciplines not contested on the previous day. Reigning WR holder and former Olympic and World champion Wayde Van Niekerk clocked a 400m early world lead of 44.17, also the Budapest standard and best mark for him since 2017. World U20 champion Lythe Pillay was second in 44.80 PB and Budapest standard, and Gardeo Isaacs was third in 45.15 PB. Miranda Coetzee got two titles and PBs in 400m/200m with 51.04 and 22.74 (0.0), second in the 400m Marlie Viljoen in 51.87 PB. Men’s 200m title for U20 Armand Van Der Walt 20.50 (0.3) PB ahead of Tsebo Matsoso 20.52, clocked 20.48 (1.7) PB in semifinals, and Lucky Moleyane third in 20.53 PB. Former World U20 champions Sokwakhana Zazini (48.95) and Zeney Van Der Walt (54.82, Budapest standard) won the 400m hurdles over Constant Pretorius 49.80 and Taylon Bieldt 55.82 respectively. Antonio Alkana won the high hurdles in 13.32 (1.5) and Marione Fourie in 12.98 (-0.1). Cheswill Johnson won the long jump with 795 (-1.6), while favored Rushwahl Samaai and Zarck Visser finished out of the podium. Prudence Sekgodisa also booked two titles in 1500m/800m with 4:17.22 and 2:03.92, while Tshepo Tshite won the men’s 1500m in 3:38.63. Other titles went to Burger Lambrechts in the shot put (20.30) and Keegan Fourie over Mpho Links with 225 on countback in the high jump.

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Alfonz Juck

Alfonz Juck is a husband, father, statistician, announcer, journalist, organizer, agent usw, following track and field since 1972. EME NEWS is a news service relating to the sport of athletics. It is published on daily basis with additional updates, as required. Copyright is held by Alfons Juck, TOP ATHLETICS, a.s., Krikova 10, 82107 Bratislava, Slovakia. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The redistribution and/or direct reproduction of material from EME NEWS is prohibited unless permission is given by c TOP ATHLETICS (such as being included in a subscription agreement).

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