World champion Justin Gatlin will be competing at the Athletix Grand Prix Series at Tuks Stadium in Pretoria on 8 March.

Gatlin, who beat Usain Bolt to win last year’s 100m sprint at the IAAF World Championships, will line up in the men’s 150m race.

‘I have obviously done 150s in training, but have never raced over that distance before,’ said the 35-year-old American. ‘It will be interesting to see how I do. It is also my first race of the season which adds to the excitement for me.’

OPINION: The other side to Gatlin’s SA visit

Aleck Skhosana, the president of Athletics South Africa, said: ‘Having Justin Gatlin running in South Africa is a big coup for us. We have such incredible depth in the sprints in South Africa. To have an athlete of Justin’s calibre compete here against our athletes means that the world sees us as a major contender in the sprints.

‘It also brings other great benefits as it inspires other aspiring sprinters and beyond. It also inspires coaches to produce the calibre of sprinters along the likes of Gatlin and Akani Simbine.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbLHybQqZsw