Van Niekerk breaks 300m world best in Ostrava

Olympic 400m champion Wayde van Niekerk broke the 300m world best to highlight the Golden Spike, an IAAF World Challenge Meeting, in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on Wednesday (28).

On an evening largely focused on a farewell celebration for Usain Bolt, it was Van Niekerk who stole the show and electrified the atmosphere after storming to a 30.81 performance over the rarely-run 300m distance, a powerful display that took down not only Michael Johnson’s world best of 30.85 which had stood since 2000, but Bolt’s 30.97 meeting record as well. 

The symbolism of the South African eclipsing one of Bolt’s standards wasn’t lost on many who see Van Niekerk as the heir to the Jamaican’s throne as the sport’s biggest star. But that’s not a discussion Van Niekerk wants to have just yet.

“I’m just pleased and grateful for this big achievement,” said Van Niekerk, whose run came eight days after a 9.94 personal best in the 100m.

He’s now the only sprinter to have produced sub-10, sub-20, sub-31 and sub-44 performances at 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m respectively. Getting there tonight did take at least a small toll, especially given the rising expectations that Johnson’s mark was within reach.