TEBOGO AND SIMBINE INCLUDED IN EXCITING LINE-UPS FOR CLASSIC SHOOT-OUT
Two of Africa’s fastest men will light up the track, with a world record on the line when Akani Simbine and BackTrack host the 12th edition of the popular annual Simbine Classic Shoot-Out powered by Curro.
World-class athletes have been unveiled in the lineup for the 150m and 300m races, to be held during the Curro Podium Grand Finale at Pilditch Stadium on 17 February.
Local favourite Simbine will look to flaunt his early-season form in the 150m dash and 20-year-old sensation Letsile Tebogo of Botswana is targeting a 300m world record over the longer distance.
Tebogo, the former world junior 100m champion, earned silver and bronze medals in the 100m and 200m finals at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, and he will line up among the title contenders at this year’s Olympic Games.
His season, however, starts in Pretoria where he will have his sights set on the 30.81 world best over the unofficial 300m distance, which was set by Wayde van Niekerk in Ostrava in June 2017.
After clocking his 300m personal best of 31.52 at last year’s Classic Shoot-Out, Tebogo went on to run impressive times over 100m (9.88) and 200m (19.50 African record) later in the 2023 campaign, and he is aiming to start his 2024 season with a bang.
And he has been given significant motivation by the Classic Shoot-Out organisers, with R30 000 on the line if he breaks the world record.
The same incentive will also be on offer to any other athletes who set global bests, with R10 000 up for grabs for individuals who break national records.
Another athlete who will target the podium at the Paris Olympics, Simbine will open his 2024 campaign over the rarely run 150m distance
The South African 100m record holder set a 150m personal best of 15.08 in Johannesburg four years ago, and he will be hoping to show his opponents a clean pair of heels by delivering a swift season opener.
The programme at the Simbine Classic Shoot-Out powered by Curro will also include elite 150m and 300m races for women, with some of the country’s top sprinters chasing prize money and bragging rights.
In addition, there promises to be fireworks over middle-distances, with a 600m race for elite men and a 1 000m contest for senior women.
