The 200m at the first Athletix Grand Prix Meeting in Roodepoort, Johannesburg on Thursday, 01 March 2018 boasts a loaded line-up that will include world 200m bronze medallist Anaso Jobodwana, World Junior 300m record holder Clarence Munyai, America’s World Junior champion in the 200m (2014) Trentavis Friday, South Africa’s World Youth champion in the 200m, Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Justin Walker a training partner to Friday.
“My strength is the final surge,” said Friday, who has a best of 20.33sec. “I am confident that I can make an impact on race day in the 200m. This is my preferred race.
“This is a first for Friday and I as we have never been to South Africa. We are both quite excited,” said Walker who boasts a 200m best of 20.26sec. “Jobodwana, Munyai and Mlenga are seriously good and I cannot wait to go into the blocks with them.”
The US athletes will have to deal with a 17-hour flight, but they are not fazed by this. “We will just make sure that we are well hydrated before we get onto the plane and keep on hydrating. And of course lots of stretching,” Walker went on to say.
Clarence Munyai has already made his intentions known after winning a 300m in 32.08sec at the Classic Shoot Out on Friday 09 February, beating the likes of 400m specialist, Pieter Conradie.
“I’m looking forward to racing on 01 March. I always love racing against Anaso and Retshidisitswe. To have the added incentive of racing against the Americans in front of our home-crowd is a really big deal. We get to show South Africa at home that we are mixing it up with the world. This is really exciting,” said Munyai.
Munyai has only raced the 300m twice. He set the World Junior record of 31.61sec in Ostrava on 28 June and his second time was on Friday, 09 February.
“That race (9 February) showed me that things are coming together nicely. I will be ready for anything at the Athletix Grand Prix Meeting in Ruimsig, so I am really looking forward to the race.”
Munyai ran the South African Junior Record in the 200m of 20.10sec at Tuks in March last year, while Retshidisitswe Mlenga clocked 20.88sec on 29 January on the very track at Ruimsig.
With Jobodwana itching to get back into sub 20sec shape, the 200m race at Roodepoort is shaping up to be a race that South Africans will look forward to with much anticipation.
EVENT INFORMATION: Athletix Grand Prix Series
Dates and Venues:
| Thursday, 01 March 2018 | Ruimsig Stadium, Johannesburg |
| Thursday, 08 March 2018 | Tuks Stadium, Tshwane |
| Thursday, 22 March 2018 | Dal Josaphat Stadium, Paarl |
Ticket Prices:
Main Pavilion Tickets
| Standard Ticket: | R 100 each |
| Children under 16 years of age: | R 50 each |
Open Stand/Grass Banks
| Standard Ticket: | R 50 each |
| Children under 16 years of age: | R 50 each |
ONLINE TICKET SALES opened today (Wednesday, 14 February 2018) and can be purchased on www.webtickets.co.za
Tickets can also be purchased at the gate of each event.
Additional big names that will be seen in action in March includes: Justin Gatlin, Joshua Cheptegei, Anaso Jobodwana, Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Caster Semenya.
Visit the event’s Facebook page for daily announcements!
Facebook: AthletixGrandPrix
Twitter: @AthletixGP
Website: www.athletixgrandprix.com
About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including track and field, cross country, road running and racewalking) in South Africa, recognised by the IAAF, and also a member of Confederation of African Athletics. The association is based in Johannesburg.