Sinesipho Dambile was the star performer on Friday, rocketing to victory in a new South African best in the men’s 150m sprint at the Simbine Classic Shootout held at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria.
Dambile, a former national champion over 200m, took the 150m contest in 15.01 seconds at the Classic Shootout, which was held in conjunction with the Wildeklawer A-Bond Inter-High meeting.
The 22-year-old sprinter took 0.03 off the SA best of 15.04 which was set by Akani Simbine on the same track in February last year.
Behind Dambile, Lucky Moleyane was also superb, taking second spot in 15.11, and Eckhart Potgieter was third in 15.37.
In the men’s 60m race, national 100m record holder Simbine (who hosted the Classic Shootout) competed on SA soil for the first time this season, winning a tight battle in a blanket finish.
Simbine clocked 6.57, narrowly holding off Rivaldo Roberts (6.60) and Tlotliso Leotlela (6.62).
It was a second successive runner-up finish for Roberts, who was edged out by Bayanda Walaza in the 60m sprint at the Simbine Classic Shooutout held two weeks earlier.
Opening her season in style, South African 100m champion Viwe Jingqi secured a convincing victory in the women’s 60m sprint.
Jingqi crossed the line in 7.37, with Charlize Eilerd grabbing the runner-up spot in 7.53.
And in the women’s 150m race, hurdles specialist Kayla van der Bergh outclassed the flat sprinters.
Van der Bergh won the race in 17.43, edging out Eswatini athlete Bongiwe Mahlalela (17.44), with Jada van Staden taking third in 17.47.
Simbine Classic Shootout results
Men
60m
1 Akani Simbine 6.57
2 Rivaldo Roberts 6.60
3 Tlotliso Leotlela 6.62
4 Tshepo Tyantini 6.69
5 Oliver Mwimba 6.72
6 Steven Sabino 6.75
7 Siya Nyathi 6.81
8 Bokamoso Shabangu 6.82
150m
1 Sinesipho Dambile 15.01
2 Lucky Moleyane 15.11
3 Echardt Potgieter 15.37
4 Nicholas Ferns 15.40
5 Franck Moukoula 15.42
6 Emile Erasmus 15.52
7 Slayden van Staden 15.58
8 Rollen Sitelele 16.28
Women
60m
1 Viwe Jingqi 7.37
2 Charlize Eilerd 7.53
3 Mikateko Mawela 7.82
4 Mienke Booysen 8.17
5 Lindokuhle Semetsi 8.40
150m
1 Kayla van der Bergh 17.43
2 Bongiwe Mahlalela 17.44
3 Jada van Staden 17.47
4 Chane Vermeulen 17.53
5 Nancy Buzani 18.10
6 Charne Wansbury 18.16
7 Yave Collins 18.27
8 Suricka Nortje 18.37
* Featured image of Sinesipho Dambile by Cecilia van Bers
