The Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mrs. NS Leeto would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Free State athlete Wayde van Niekerk on his magnificent achievement over the weekend. Last Saturday Van Niekerk became the first athlete in the world to run under 10 seconds in the 100m event, 20 seconds in the 200m (19.94) and 44 seconds in the 400m (43.48).
The 23-year-old athlete stole the show by producing the best performance of the weekend as the various provincial track and field championships around the country came to a close. Van Niekerk shattered his 100m personal best by 0.50 to win the Free State title in Bloemfontein in 9.98 seconds. He became the fourth South African to dip under 10 seconds in the 100m sprint, but missed Akani Simbine’s national record set last week Tuesday at the first leg of the ASA Night Series at Pilditch Stadium by 0.02.
The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation supported van Niekerk through the Free State Sport Science institute, where van Niekerk went through an extensive conditioning and sport science programme. Van Niekerk then went on to earn a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, and set the word alight with his performance in the 400m, becoming the world champion in this event.
Congratulating Van Niekerk, MEC Leeto said, “We are immensely proud as the people of the Free State to have a talented individual like Wayde in our midst. He is a testament to what dedication and hard work can achieve, and it is an honour to associate with a world champion as a province.
I am looking forward to his performance at the Olympic games in Rio later this year.”
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