A lifetime dream coming true is how Carina Horn describes her 10.98-second race at the Doha Diamond League Meeting in Qatar on Friday.
‘I still battle to believe that at long last I managed to run a sub-11 race,’ says Horn. ‘When I saw 10.98 going up on the electronic scoreboard next to my name all the long hard hours, the sacrifices and the disappointments were forgotten.
‘All that mattered was that I had achieved what I set out to do many years ago. It was the breakthrough I have been dreaming off. It is the one moment in my athletics career which I will never forget,’ said the Tuks athlete.
But there’s no chance of Horn, who finished fifth, resting on her laurels. Already yesterday she was talking about making sure she becomes a consistent sub-11 second sprinter. And yes, she believes she’s capable of running faster times.
‘I guess as long as I’m capable I’ll always be on a quest to gain that extra hundredth of a second when racing. I’m sure my coach, Rayner Schopf, has already started to plan what I need to do to be faster.’
Werner Prinsloo who coaches Commonwealth Games 100m champion, Akani Simbine (Tuks), was full of praise for Horn being the first South African female sprinter to dip under 11 seconds.
‘I couldn’t help but get excited while watching her race on television. Even though she only finished fifth it was still an amazing performance as it was a breakthrough for South African women’s athletics.
‘Time will tell if she is capable of running even faster times. If she does, she can become one of the 10 fastest female sprinters in the world.’
Prinsloo was not quite sure as to what impact Horn’s performance is going to have on the local female sprinters.
‘We’ll have to wait and see. One of two things will happen. There are going to be those athletes who are now inspired and will start to dream of also breaking 11 seconds.
‘But unfortunately, Carina’s performance might also leave some athletes feeling despondent. A time of 10.98 can be intimidating if you’re currently only able to run 11.50s.
‘Personally, I think at the moment Carina is in the same situation where South African women’s discus record-holder, Elizna Naude, was a few years back. While in her prime Elizna was in a class of her own.’
Prinsloo said Simbine would start his international campaign on 20 May when he competes in the Boston Street event.
The Tuks sprinter will then go on to compete at the Rome Diamond League Meeting on 31 May.
Picture of Horn courtesy of Reg Caldecott