PRESS RELEASE
AKANI SIMBINE GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT AT SUPERSPORT SIMBINE CLASSIC
After months of planning by the organising team, meeting director Akani Simbine is pleased with the successful inaugural edition of the SuperSport Simbine Classic, the first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver track and field meeting to be held in South Africa, which took place at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday, 28 April.
WIth a visual display never seen in South African athletics, an electric crowd, and a long list of incredible performances produced by local and international stars, spectators who packed Pilditch Stadium were given a unique experience.
On the track and in the field, there were also some memorable performances, with elite stars chasing a record prize purse of R1.46 million.
Marlie Viljoen set a South African best of 36.30 seconds in the women’s 300m race.
Other highlights included American athlete Cambrea Sturgis running 10.92 to win the women’s 100m sprint – one of the fastest times ever achieved in South Africa – and Simbine clocking 9.98 in the men’s 100m event, dipping under 10 seconds for the 12th year in a row.
“I think it was a successful event. For me, seeing everybody come out on a Tuesday to show the love for athletics we have in this country and filling up Pilditch was amazing,” Simbine said.
“I feel we showed the world how we do athletics, with the help of SuperSport, and we had everything covered on the day – kids athletics, the guys who are trying to make it on the pre-programme, and professional athletes who competed in the main programme.
“I’m really happy with how the day turned out and I’m very grateful to the team, our partners and all the sponsors that made it happen.
“In addition, we appreciate the support of Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, as well as Athletics Gauteng North and its president John Mathane who played a key role, and Gauteng Province Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.”
The Simbine Classic was made possible thanks to multiple partners including Adidas, AJ Stone Attorneys, Aquelle, Astron Energy, Avanti, BackSports, Bidvest, Biogen, Chromtech, Dis-Chem, GoTyme Bank, Nielsen Sports, Sibanye-Stillwater, SuperSport, SuperSport Schools, TuksSport, and the Akani Simbine Foundation.
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AFRICA V THE WORLD IN MEN’S 100M SPRINT AT SIMBINE CLASSIC
Perennial rivals Akani Simbine and Andre de Grasse will lock horns in Pretoria on 28 April when two of the world’s fastest men headline the 100m line-up at the Simbine Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour meeting at Pilditch Stadium.
Simbine, the South African record holder and three-time Olympic 100m finalist, and Canadian sprinter De Grasse, the former Olympic 200m champion, are expected to light up the track.
They will have to be at their best, however, against a field which features four other men who have gone under 10 seconds in their careers.
Nigerian speedster Favour Ashe and Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon, the African Games 100m champion, will fancy their chances of putting up a fight, as will SA contenders Shaun Maswanganyi, a former World University Games silver medallist, and Retshidisitswe Mlenga, a former world youth 200m champion.
The men’s 100m sprint, which consists of two races, will also include the likes of Jamaican athletes Javari Thomas and Adrian Kerr, SA-born New Zealander Tiaan Whelpton, and some of South Africa’s fastest men, including Cheswill Johnson and Abduraghmaan Karriem.
“We are excited to announce a quality line-up for the men’s 100m sprint, which will give some of Africa’s fastest athletes a chance to race against global stars on South African soil,” said Simbine, the meeting founder and director.
“For me personally, and the rest of the South African athletes taking part, it is also a chance to compete at the highest level in front of our home crowd, which is a great opportunity for us. I’m looking forward to it.”
Held under the auspices of Athletics South Africa, the Simbine Classic will be made possible thanks to multiple partners including Adidas, Astron Energy, Avanti, BackSports, Bidvest, Biogen, Dis-Chem, Nielsen Sports, Sibanye-Stillwater and the Akani Simbine Foundation.
Tickets for the Simbine Classic, ranging between R60 and R250, are on sale online at www.itickets.co.za.
VIP tickets are also available. For more information contact info@simbineclassic.co.za.
RECORD PRIZE PURSE ANNOUNCED FOR SIMBINE CLASSIC
Offering massive incentives to local and international athletes, the Simbine Classic has unveiled a record prize purse for the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting taking place at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on 28 April, 2026.
The total purse for the main programme at the inaugural meeting will be R1.46 million – the highest amount of prize money ever offered for a track and field competition in South Africa.
In each of the 12 events being contested – the winners will receive R50 000, and prize money will be paid to the top six athletes. The Para – Mens 100m will also receive prize money for the top 6.
“Our aim is to bring a world-class athletics meeting to South Africa, and in order to do this we need to ensure we are providing sufficient incentives,” said meeting founder and director Akani Simbine.
“We are also delighted to offer local athletes a chance to earn the sort of prize money that has only previously been available to them on the international circuit.”
Held under the auspices of Athletics South Africa, the Simbine Classic will be made possible thanks to multiple partners including Avanti, BackSports, Nielsen Sports, Bidvest, Biogen, Sibanye Stillwater, Dis-Chem and the Akani Simbine Foundation. Tickets for the Simbine Classic, ranging between R60 and R250, are on sale online at www.itickets.co.za. VIP tickets are also available. For more information contact info@simbineclassic.co.za.
WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES ANNOUNCED FOR BACKSPORTS 300M AT SIMBINE CLASSIC
In a packed programme featuring a long list of world-class track and field athletes, the BackSports men’s 300m races promise to be among the many highlights at the inaugural Simbine Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting taking place at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on 28 April.
The BackSports men’s 300m will consist of two races, including some of South Africa’s fastest sprinters, visiting international stars and promising young prospects.
A total of nine athletes who have dipped under 45 seconds over the 400m distance in their careers will enter the blocks in the two contests.
From a local perspective, Zakithi Nene will fancy his chances of coming out on top after breaking new ground throughout a superb 2025 season. Last year, Nene was the third fastest 400m runner in the world after setting a 400m personal best of 43.76 at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi, and he finished fifth in the one-lap final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Other South African athletes lining up include Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Gardeo Isaacs and 18-year-old Leendert Koekemoer, who all formed part of South African 4x400m relay squads that earned medals last year at the World Relays and the World Championships.
Among the international competitors, Muzala Samukonga of Zambia will turn out among the pre-race favourites. Samukonga, a former African champion, Commonwealth Games champion and Olympic bronze medallist, holds a one-lap personal best of 43.74 after setting the Zambian national record at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Other foreign athletes to watch are Olympic and World Championships relay medallist Zandrion Barnes of Jamaica, former NCAA (US collegiate) champion Emmanuel Bamidele of the UAE, and European Championships bronze medallist Alex Haydon-Wilson of Great Britain.
Chidi Okezie of Nigeria and 19-year-old Justice Oratile of Botswana, who have both gone under 44 seconds over one lap, will also fancy their chances of putting up a fight.
“BackSports has operated across multiple sports over the past decade, rooted in track and field. We take pride in consistently promoting every discipline at every level of South African athletics,” said BackSports chief operations officer (COO) Erwin Schmidt. “We are proud to contribute to an international event of the Simbine Classic’s calibre and are committed to helping unlock its full potential, elevating South African athletics to the next level.”
Held under the auspices of Athletics South Africa, the Simbine Classic will be made possible thanks to multiple partners including Astron Energy, Adidas, Avanti, BackSports, Nielsen Sports, Bidvest, Biogen, Dis-Chem and the Akani Simbine Foundation. Tickets for the Simbine Classic, ranging between R60 and R250, are on sale online at https://itickets.co.za/register/new/485863.
VIP tickets are also available. For more information contact info@simbineclassic.co.za.
LOCAL ATHLETES GIVEN A CHANCE TO SHINE IN SIMBINE CLASSIC NATIONAL PROGRAMME
As a curtain raiser to the main programme at the Simbine Classic, local athletes will have an opportunity to compete in South Africa’s first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver track and field meeting during the national programme at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on 28 April 2026.
The two-hour national programme will consist of 14 events across a range of track and field disciplines.
This will give domestic athletes an opportunity to participate in what are expected to be thrilling contests featuring some of South Africa’s best sprinters, hurdlers, middle-distance runners and field event athletes, as well as the country’s most promising rising stars.
“We are excited to welcome elite athletes from around the world to the Simbine Classic as we showcase global athletics on a South African stage,” said meeting founder Akani Simbine.
“It is also very important for us to give local athletes a platform, and we are pleased to confirm that we will have a full pre-programme, giving SA athletes a chance to put their talent on display ahead of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting.”
Main programme
1.30pm – long jump women
1.30pm – 400m hurdles women
1.40pm – high jump men
1.40pm – 400m hurdles men
1.50pm – 1500m men
2pm – 100m women (race 1)
2.10pm – 100m women (race 2)
2.20pm – 100m men (race 1)
2.30pm – 100m men (race 2)
2.40pm – 200m women
2.50pm – 200m men
3pm – 400m women
3.10pm – 400m men
3.20pm – 4x100m mixed relay
Held under the auspices of Athletics South Africa, the Simbine Classic will be made possible thanks to multiple partners including Astron Energy, Avanti, BackSports, Nielsen Sports, Bidvest, Biogen, Adidas, Dis-Chem and the Akani Simbine Foundation.
Tickets for the Simbine Classic, ranging between R60 and R250, are on sale online at www.itickets.co.za.
VIP tickets are also available. For more information contact info@simbineclassic.co.za.
PROMOTING YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
While there will be a tremendous amount of interest in the main programme at the 2026 Simbine Classic, the inaugural World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting on 28 April at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria will be equally focussed on promoting grassroots development and youth participation.
Ahead of the pre-programme for national athletes, which precedes the main programme showcasing international stars, all attention will be on the initiative for sub-youth athletes to be held between 8am and 12.40pm.
Competing on the same track as elite professional athletes from around the world, children will have an opportunity to display their talent in a range of sprint races from 60 metres to 100 metres for kids between the U7 and U15 age groups.
Aside from various other activities, the kids’ play area will also feature a 200m track where the children can enjoy themselves before making their way to the track in the stadium to compete in their events.
More importantly, after they have participated, the youth will be able to remain in the children’s play area where they can interact with senior athletes competing in the main programme later in the day.
“This event is the first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting to be held in South Africa, but our vision extends far beyond the elite programme,” said Simbine Classic founder and meeting director Akani Simbine.
“We hope to not only introduce young children to track and field athletics but to ensure they enjoy it and have a wonderful experience that they will remember.
“We are already working on this aspect of the sport through the Akani Simbine Foundation, and this sub-youth initiative allows us to continue introducing South African children to the sport of athletics.”
Held under the auspices of Athletics South Africa, the Simbine Classic will be made possible thanks to multiple partners including Avanti, BackSports, Nielsen Sports, Bidvest, Biogen, Dis-Chem and the Akani Simbine Foundation.
BRINGING GLOBAL ATHLETICS TO SOUTH AFRICA
Showcasing international athletics on a South African stage, local athletes and track and field fans will get an opportunity to experience a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting on home soil when the inaugural Simbine Classic is held at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on 28 April, 2026.
The event will be the first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting to be held in South Africa, and it promises to be a memorable night of athletics, with thrilling battles expected across a range of disciplines witnessed by a packed crowd at the historic Pilditch Stadium which can cater for more than 20 000 spectators.
“This is not just an opportunity for South African athletes to compete against international stars from around the world, but we also see it as a chance to showcase and promote African athletics,” said event founder and meeting director Akani Simbine, a three-time Olympic 100m finalist.
“We want to show off our country and our continent and give people a taste of African hospitality. We have world-class facilities and world-class event organisation skills and we look forward to giving people a chance to experience these things in South Africa’s capital city.”
Ahead of the Simbine Classic main programme, a pre-programme will be held between 2pm and 3.30pm, which will include sprinting, hurding, jumping and middle-distance events, as well as a mixed 4x100m relay.
In addition, sub-youth athletes will participate in a Kids Athletics programme between 9.20am and 12.40pm.
Kids Athletics is a World Athletics initiative that uses the power of track and field to inspire children and young people, wherever they are, to be more active, develop their skills and confidence, and to connect with the sport for life.
Held under the auspices of Athletics South Africa, the Simbine Classic will be made possible thanks to multiple partners including Avanti, BackSports, Nielsen Sports, Bidvest, Biogen, Dis-Chem and the Akani Simbine Foundation.
Main programme
- 4.40pm – Shot put, men
- 4.50pm – Long jump, men
- 5.00pm – Sibanye Stillwater Javelin throw, women
- 5.00pm – 110m hurdles, men
- 5.10pm – 100m hurdles, women
- 5.20pm – Sibanye Stillwater 3000m, men
- 5.35pm – 300m, women
- 5.45pm – BackSports 300m, men
- 6.05pm – Avanti 4x100m relay, women
- 6.15pm – Avanti 4x100m relay, men
- 6.25pm – 100m, women
- 6.35pm – 100m, men
- 6.45pm – 4x400m relay, women