Van Niekerk ran a comfortable race and won the street race in 19.84 seconds, which is 0.03 faster than Anaso Jobodwana’s 200m national record.

This was a straight course though, so the record will not be recognised as a national record, because of it being a temporary course and because of a lack of bend.

Van Niekerk beat the USA’s BeeJay Lee by 0.33 seconds.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Keston Bledman narrowly edged the South African 100m national record holder, Akani Simbine, by 0.001 seconds to claim the honour in Boston.

Even though Van Niekerk’s time won’t go down in the record books, he is still more than satisfied.

“It’s quite satisfying, it’s quite a solid time.

“I went under the 20-second barrier again, so it felt good. It shows me what I have in my legs, although it didn’t feel as sharp as I’d like it to feel.

“But I’m satisfied and I know that there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

Van Niekerk will be heading south to Jamaica on Monday, where he will compete in the 200m at the Jamaican Invitational over the weekend.

“I’m off to Jamaica to get used to the Jamaican weather as well as the new atmosphere and environment and then I’m racing in the Jamaican Invitational.

The World and Olympics 400m champion will switch to his specialist event for the first time this season in Switzerland during the Lausanne leg of the IAAF Diamond League which will take place on 6 July.

The 2017 IAAF World Championships in London with take place from 5 to 13 August.

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport