Emile Erasmus joined a small elite group of South African sprinters yesterday (13/05) when he won the 100 metres in 10.08s at a TuksAthletics League Meeting.
The Tuks athlete is only the ninth local sprinter, if one excludes Frankie Fredericks (Namibia), to dip under 10.10s in the 100 metres. It also means he is currently the fourth fastest man in South Africa. Only Akani Simbine 9.92s, Thando Roto 9.95s and Wayde van Niekerk 10.04s have so far run faster times this season.
An interesting statistic at the current moment, Erasmus is the fastest white sprinter in the world. However he does not want to make too much of it as he rightly points out that the international season has just began.
The Tuks-athlete could not have chosen a tougher day for this breakthrough run. At the time of his race the temperature barely soared to 14 degrees and it was rainy. It was difficult weather conditions which will make any sprinter despondent. Luckily for Erasmus the wind took a slight “breather" as they were settling in their starting blocks. The wind metre reading was +2.0m/s which make it a legal race. His previous best time was 10.22s.
Erasmus has good reason to feel that a burden has been lifted. The week before the race he was not in good mind set as he was battling to get invitations to race in Europe. It meant that on Saturday it was a case of go big or stay home. He needed to clock a fast time. 10.08s ought to be good enough for him to start packing his suitcases.
Erasmus is physically big for a sprinter. He is 1.93 metres tall and weighs approximately 100kg. The legendary Usain Bolt is 1.95 metres tall and weighs 94kg.
Many rugby teams would give anything to have a wing of Erasmus’s speed abilities playing for them.
“I will admit there were times over the last few years that I was really tempted to go and play rugby. It is only my passion for athletics that prevented me from doing so. I love the speed challenge.”
Erasmus is confident that he is capable of running even faster times.
“My coach, Frans van Rooyen, changed my training program over the last few weeks and it seems to be working. At the moment the start is the strong point to my sprint. I am normally in front with the top sprinters over the first 30 or so metres but then they start to pass me. We are working on improving my top end speed.”
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