By Dylan Bettencourt
- Athletes will fight for a massive prize pot of money at the Simbine Classic in Pretoria on Tuesday this week.
- Fans can watch the live track action on SuperSport and SABC television channels while local runners earn big cash prizes.
Akani Simbine is stepping onto the track to fight for gold while carrying the stress of running the entire event. The South African sprint star is the boss of the new Simbine Classic at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Simbine spent months chasing sponsors and setting up the massive payday for local athletes. Now he must hand over the controls and focus on his 100m race.
He said on Monday he does not even know what time he will arrive at the track. Simbine said the nerves of building the event hit him hard.
Finding the cash to pay athletes was his biggest hurdle. Simbine secured millions from brands like Astron, SuperSport, Adidas and government sports departments.
He wants to pay local athletes properly so they have cash to travel to races in Europe. He said runners at other local races are still waiting for their money.
Athletes will battle for a huge prize pot. The winner of a final grabs R50,000. Second place takes R25,000, and sixth place walks away with R8,000.
Fans across South Africa can catch the action live on SuperSport and the SABC. Simbine pushed hard to bring both broadcasters together so fans without pay television can watch.
Simbine used his decade of global racing to pull international stars to Pretoria. He will face Canadian Olympic gold medallist Andre de Grasse in the 100m clash. De Grasse has already clocked a fast 9.95 seconds this year.
Other major names hit the track on Tuesday. Olympic javelin champion Sarah Kolak and American sprinters Cambrea Sturgis and Kyree King will compete.
Local relay stars Zakithi Nene, Lythe Pillay, Leendert Koekemoer and Gardeo Isaacs will race Zambian Muzala Samukonga in the 300m event.
Prudence Sekgodiso lines up for the 1,500m race. Long jumper Luvo Manyonga pushes ahead with his comeback following a drug ban.
Pictured above: South African sprint star Akani Simbine.
Image source: Akani Simbine/Instagram
