Bayanda Walaza has shared lessons learnt in match up against Kishane Thompson. i .
South African sprint sensation Bayanda Walaza has revealed how he found it tough coming up against the very best at Prefontaine Classic where he finished sixth.
South Africa wonderkid Bayanda Walaza has shared how nervousness left him praying not to finish last at the Prefontaine Classic.
Walaza did not have a great outing at the Eugene Diamond League, when he clocked 10.04 seconds for a sixth place finish in a stacked field that also had Christian Coleman, Ackeem Blake, Trayvon Bromell and Olympics silver medallist Kishane Thompson, who won the race.
The 19-year-old, who is now just turning pro, says he received lots of lessons from the race but admits to failing to execute his strategy.
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”I am pro officially. It is the start of becoming a pro. It’s a learning stage and I enjoy it here as it’s a rush, it’s rough,” Walaza said on Real Talk With Tee.
”It is rough in here but I enjoy it. I enjoy long travels. I struggle sleeping but enjoy it. I am young I can recover quickly
Walaza Reveals How His Plan Failed in Eugene
”I wanted to execute my move, the main thing I was focusing on was execution. I wanted to be perfect in my start and I wanted the transition to be smooth and as I went through the race, I felt I was out.”
Walaza says he felt an unusual sense of nervousness at the final stretch of the race and it is when he realised he was not about to perform well, hence his wish that he does not finish last.
”I felt felt that I am moving. As soon as we were close to the finish line, I started tensing. I don’t know what happened. They started moving and I was praying that I will not be last. I didn’t come last.”
Nervousness is not something that has been associated with Walaza this season as he has been among the top performers while showing plenty of confidence having been among the first sprinters to dip under 10 seconds this year with two sub-10 results so far this season.
He will be hoping to kick out the butterflies ahead of the World Championships as he bids to win a first medal at the Worlds.
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