Thando Roto has been the talk of the town after his 9.98sec wind-aided (illegal) 100m at the UJ & Nkwalu Athletics meet three weeks ago. Tuks’ new sensation also proved his class when he opened his season with a blistering fast 15.32sec, 150m after literally jogging across the finish line. Athletics enthusiasts are in for a treat when the Eastern Cape-born Roto lines up at the second Varsity Athletics meet with high hopes of dipping under the magical 10sec barrier in the men’s 100m final…and he is well capable of doing it!
Thando Roto is a neither a newbie nor a one-hit-wonder. The Eastern Cape-born sprinter has been in the business for many years; perhaps his reason for being a student of international sprinting? Nonetheless, he represented South Africa at junior and senior level, won the 2016 SA Under-23 100m title with a bolt-fast 10.16sec (wind-aided) and as a result was included in last year’s African Championships team in which he managed to make the 100m final.
Despite making it to the finals of the African Championships, he struggled to qualify for last year’s Rio Olympics due to hamstring injuries; he was sidelined and thus had to watch his teammates from his television set back home. Believing that everything happens for a reason, he was encouraged to perfect his craft instead of allowing it to dictate his future.
Roto, known for his blistering-fast and explosive block-starts, has been biting the bullet under the guidance of coach Hennie Kriel during the off-season. He looks well-conditioned, is light on his feet and boasts a confidence that you can almost smell! He is focused, remains consistent and if he continues with such persistence, he might become one of the top sprinters in world sprinting.
In the first Varsity Athletics meeting Roto finished in first with a time of 10.18, but he could well shave 19 split seconds off that time later this month on his home track.
On 31 March, we could witness something special when the former Free State athlete attempts to legally (a wind-meter reading of less than +2.0) run under 10sec in the men’s 100m final. If he does, he will be one of only five South Africans to ever dip under the sought-after 10sec barrier. To many this feat might seem impossible, but with the likes of teammates and training partners Keenan Michau and Gift Leotlela lining up next to him, he will be pushed to his limits… a limit that is nothing slower than 9.98sec!
Stiff competition from Keenan Michau will also add the needed pressure and drama to the men’s 100m final that should be won, in under 10sec, by the in-shape Roto.
Gather your thoughts and fasten your seatbelts please, Roto is on the verge of making Varsity Athletics history!
By Reginald Hufkie
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