Speedster Van Niekerk has that winning look
It is in the final that it counts to be first out of the bend, SA’s rocket says
London — Is Wayde van Niekerk really struggling to hold his lead coming off the bend? Do not believe a word of it. The 2017 edition of Van Niekerk is no longer the same sprinter who won the world title two years ago — or even the one who took the Olympic crown. The influence of Usain Bolt is clear on SA’s top track and field athlete at the world championships in London. In the first two rounds of the 400m, Van Niekerk emulated the dethroned Jamaican superstar by eyeballing his rivals on the home straight. He repeated it on Monday when dead-heating with Britain’s Daniel Talbot in the 200m heat. Van Niekerk eased up as he reached the line and twice glanced at Talbot as they both clocked 20.16 to qualify for Wednesday’s semifinals. The South African is psyching out his prey before they even get to the final. That is a ploy Bolt used many times, most recently with less success in the 100m semifinals when he eyeballed new US hero Christian Coleman. It has normally worked.
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