Akani Simbine Akani Simbine, seen here alongside Letsile Tebogo and Christian Coleman in China on Saturday, survived a stumble after 60 metres to storm to victory.
South African star Akani Simbine proved that his recent victory in Botswana was no fluke as he stormed to a superb 100m win at the Diamond League event in China on Saturday.
The 31-year-old sprinter dealt easily with Kenyan superstar Ferdinand Omanyala at the Botswana Grand Prix a few weeks ago, and faced an even more stacked field in Xiamen, China in the first Diamond League meeting of the season.
Apart from Omanyala, Simbine came up against Botswana’s 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, American speedster Christian Coleman and 60m world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu of Britain.
Running in lane five, SA’s 4x100m relay Olympic silver medallist made a strong start, but still trailed the likes of Coleman and Omanyala over the first 40 metres.
At the halfway mark, though, Simbine put his foot down and gradually edged ahead of Coleman on his inside lane.
With about 15 metres to go, the South African was well clear of the field, and produced an outstanding finish to win a time of 9.99 seconds.
It was short of his season’s best and world lead of 9.90 that he clocked in Botswana, but he was delighted with his performance.
“The race felt good. I stumbled a bit after the 60, so I had to catch myself, but happened to catch the wind while catching the win,” Simbine told the Diamond League website afterwards.
“Keep going with the momentum… I have now going back to the basics, (and) putting myself in a position to learn.
“I think if the conditions are good and we have a favourable wind to us – if everything is primed for us to run fast, we run fast.
“I am happy with putting the race together as I said before, and getting the win.”
Omanyala finished second in 10.13, while Azu was third in 10.17, with Coleman fading to fourth in 10.18.
“For sure my expectation was to win the race, but the second place is not bad,” Omanyala said.
“I was inspired by Simbine during the race. I just go ahead and take it easy. I hope I can just get better and better.”
Simbine will remain in China for next Saturday’s second Diamond League meeting in Shanghai.
He wasn’t the only South African in action in Xiamen, though.
Women’s Paris Olympic javelin silver medallist Jo-Ané du Plessis (née Van Dyk) will have been disappointed with her best effort of 60.38m, which was only good enough for sixth position.
In the men’s 400m, former world junior champion Lythe Pillay had to settle for seventh spot in a time of 45.28, with Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori winning in a superb 44.25.
But Ndori’s time was surpassed by South African Zakithi Nene at the national championships in Potchefstroom on Saturday, as Nene won the title in a stunning 44.22.
That was not only a new personal best for Nene, but also the second-fastest time by a South African, behind Wayde van Niekerk’s world-record 43.03.
Nene is scheduled to compete at the Shanghai Diamond League event next week, where he will be chasing American Chris Robinson’s 2025 world-lead time of 44.15.
Women’s middle-distance star Prudence Sekgodiso grabbed a double at the SA champs on Saturday, winning the 800m title in 1:58.80, and the 1,500m in 4:11.34.
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