All eyes will be on Zakithi Nene in the men’s 400m final at the World Athletics Championships on Thursday, with fans across South Africa holding their breaths and crossing their fingers in the hope that he can win the global title.
Nene has had an incredible season.
He stepped on the podium at three Diamond League meetings and became the second South African to run under 44 seconds (after world record holder Wayde van Niekerk) when he stopped the clock at 43.76 at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi.
However, he picked up a hamstring injury and was forced to pull out of a couple of races in the build-up to the World Championships, including the Diamond League final in Zurich, and while he seemed confident ahead of his first-round heat, it was unclear whether he was fit and ready to tear up the track.
But he put those concerns aside by winning his heat in 44.34 in the opening round, despite taking his foot off the throttle down the home straight, proving he was in decent shape.
He was only fifth fastest in the semifinals on Tuesday, but he won his race and again didn’t look to be pushing in top gear.
Tough battle ahead
All that said, the final is going to be a war and there are a handful of athletes who will fancy their chances, including Collen Kebinatshipi of Botswana who set a new world lead of 43.61 in the penultimate round.
Asked after his semifinal how he felt about his chances in the final, Nene was conservative in his response and didn’t give too much away.
“We’re here now. Survive and advance is the name of the game. I survived and advanced and I’ve got one more round left,” he said.
Considering how well he has run this year, and the form he is in, it will be disappointing for Nene if he doesn’t get on the podium, and he has a real chance of winning gold.
He’ll need to grit his teeth down the home straight and fight for it, but if he runs well, he’s got as good a chance as anyone.
The men’s 400m final, which features four African athletes (including three from Botswana) will be held at 3.10pm (SA time) on Thursday.
* Featured image of Zakithi Nene by Anton Geyser/Athletics South Africa
Collen Kebinatshipi for Botswana will get gold I am telling you I can bet on that