To be the first sprinter to dip under 10 seconds over 100 metres in 2021 is at stake when Akani Simbine settles in his starting blocks during tomorrow's Avanti International Invitational-meeting in Roodepoort.

So far, no athlete has done so. The past Friday, Bingtian Su (China) won the short sprint, running 10.05s. 

It will be the first time the Tuks based athlete races this season. According to his coach, Werner Prinsloo, it is only a "test run". 

"Akani and I discussed it. He reckons it is high time he starts racing. He has been looking good during training, but I don't want to make bold predictions. What matters now is that Akani gets a feel as to what racing is about. That is why he needs to put on his 'racing spikes'.

Prinsloo, however, hinted he won't be surprised if Simbine dips under 10 seconds. The statistics do favour a fast time. The South African 100m record holder has built a reputation of being fast out of the blocks in March. In 2017 he won at Tuks, running 9.92s. Last year he clocked 9.91s. Both his times were his best for the season.

A definite highlight was in 2017 when Simbine twice won the 100 metres dipping under ten seconds within three weeks in March. During his first outing, he did so twice on the same day. He then went on to also win the 200 metres in 19.95s. Only a handful of athletes have managed a sub-10s and sub-20s race on the same day. 

When asked, Prinsloo said they had not really focussed on anything specific over the past few weeks. 

"Akani has been in the game for a long time. There is no need any more to work on something specific. My goal is to ensure that he executes every tiny aspect of his technique to perfection. It is about marginal gains. To get his 'engine' running smoothly."

The Tuks-based athlete will also race on Saturday during the Athletics Gauteng North Champs at Tuks. He will only compete in the 100 metres. 

"The Covid-pandemic is causing a lot of uncertainty as to how the athletics season might play out. From Saturday, I want Akani to make the most of every opportunity he gets to race."

Prinsloo is not sure when Simbine’s international campaign will start.

"The dates of the Diamond League are known, but we are still waiting to hear from the meeting organisers. I guess everyone is waiting to see what happens over the next few weeks. We shall, in probability, only finalise everything after the South African Championships. I foresee that travelling internationally might be problematic.” 

Tuks's Luxolo Adams, who recently clocked a wind-assisted time of 10.07s in Potchefstroom, will compete in the 100 metres tomorrow.