Botswana sprint star Isaac Makwala will be in action in the opening meet of the Athletix Grand Prix series at Ruimsig on Thursday.
His participation in the 200m — against local heroes Anaso Jobodwana and Clarence Munyai — was confirmed on Tuesday morning by organisers who also finally announced they had a title sponsor.
Liquid Telecom — who last week announced an R8-million sponsorship for sprinter Akani Simbine to pay for his coach to quit his job and train him fulltime — is venturing wider into track and field.
Like their sponsorship of Simbine‚ this one of the series is a three-year deal‚ although this time they kept mum on the value.
Liquid Telecom SA CEO Kyle Whitehall said the sponsorship would go to appearance fees‚ prize money and other costs.
World 100m champion Justin Gatlin is the stand-out foreign star who will be competing‚ although he’s running only in the second meet in Pretoria on March 8.
The series promises to be a kickback to the old Engen Series which used to attract foreign stars up until its demise 15 years ago.
Makwala achieved fame at the 2017 world championships when he ran a 200m time trial on his own to qualify for the final after missing the heats because of norovirus.
Makwala was heartbroken after being prevented from entering the London stadium to compete in the 400m final — won by SA’s Wayde van Niekerk — but he became a crowd favourite after performing on his own.
The 200m is the premier event‚ with Makwala taking on Jobodwana‚ the 200m bronze medallist from the 2015 world championships‚ and high-flying youngster Clarence Munyai.
Also in the mix are Gatlin’s training partners Justin Walker and Trentavis Friday.
The other main attraction is the men’s 1500m where Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei‚ the 10‚000m runner-up behind Mo Farah at the world championships last year‚ is in action against SA’s finest in that discipline‚ including Dumisane Hlaselo‚ Jerry Motsau and young George Kusche.
But Cheptegei’s toughest competition could come from Ronald Musugala‚ also of Uganda.
Kenyan Nicholas Bett‚ the 2015 world 400m hurdles champion‚ will take on LJ van Zyl‚ Constant Pretorius and Le Roux Hamman as well as countryman Boniface Mucheru Tumuti.
The main programme begins with the hurdles race at 7pm‚ and the men’s 1500m is at 7.50pm and the 200m at 8.05pm.
Makwala to face Jobodwana‚ Munyai on Thursday
Image: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
Botswana sprint star Isaac Makwala will be in action in the opening meet of the Athletix Grand Prix series at Ruimsig on Thursday.
His participation in the 200m — against local heroes Anaso Jobodwana and Clarence Munyai — was confirmed on Tuesday morning by organisers who also finally announced they had a title sponsor.
Liquid Telecom — who last week announced an R8-million sponsorship for sprinter Akani Simbine to pay for his coach to quit his job and train him fulltime — is venturing wider into track and field.
Like their sponsorship of Simbine‚ this one of the series is a three-year deal‚ although this time they kept mum on the value.
Liquid Telecom SA CEO Kyle Whitehall said the sponsorship would go to appearance fees‚ prize money and other costs.
World 100m champion Justin Gatlin is the stand-out foreign star who will be competing‚ although he’s running only in the second meet in Pretoria on March 8.
The series promises to be a kickback to the old Engen Series which used to attract foreign stars up until its demise 15 years ago.
Makwala achieved fame at the 2017 world championships when he ran a 200m time trial on his own to qualify for the final after missing the heats because of norovirus.
Makwala was heartbroken after being prevented from entering the London stadium to compete in the 400m final — won by SA’s Wayde van Niekerk — but he became a crowd favourite after performing on his own.
The 200m is the premier event‚ with Makwala taking on Jobodwana‚ the 200m bronze medallist from the 2015 world championships‚ and high-flying youngster Clarence Munyai.
Also in the mix are Gatlin’s training partners Justin Walker and Trentavis Friday.
The other main attraction is the men’s 1500m where Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei‚ the 10‚000m runner-up behind Mo Farah at the world championships last year‚ is in action against SA’s finest in that discipline‚ including Dumisane Hlaselo‚ Jerry Motsau and young George Kusche.
But Cheptegei’s toughest competition could come from Ronald Musugala‚ also of Uganda.
Kenyan Nicholas Bett‚ the 2015 world 400m hurdles champion‚ will take on LJ van Zyl‚ Constant Pretorius and Le Roux Hamman as well as countryman Boniface Mucheru Tumuti.
The main programme begins with the hurdles race at 7pm‚ and the men’s 1500m is at 7.50pm and the 200m at 8.05pm.
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