Lachie Kennedy performed well against elite sprinters

Beat Olympic 200m champ and narrowly missed podium

Rising Australian sprint star Lachlan Kennedy has proven he’s the real deal by finishing a creditable fifth in the 100m on his Diamond League debut in the Chinese city of Xiamen.

 

Kennedy came into the opening Diamond League meet of 2025 in career-best form, having claimed silver in the 60m at last month’s world indoors in Nanjing.

 

He also moved to second on the Australian 100m all-time list with a run of 10.00 seconds at the national championships in Perth in early April.

 

The 21-year-old held his own against a world-class field on Saturday night in Xiamen, crossing the line in fifth spot in 10.18.

 

South African Akani Simbine was the runaway winner in 9.99 ahead of Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala (10.13), Britain’s Jeremiah Azu, US star Christian Coleman and Kennedy.

 

Only seven-hundredths of a second separated the next six runners across the line behind Simbine.

 

Sprinter Lachie Kennedy has made a sensational Diamond League debut

Sprinter Lachie Kennedy has made a sensational Diamond League debut

The Aussie star impressed many as he finished the 100m final in fifth – and very close to a podium finish

The Aussie star impressed many as he finished the 100m final in fifth – and very close to a podium finish

 

 

Kennedy bested Letsile Tebogo, who won gold at the Paris Games last year in the 200m. The superstar sprinter is better over the 200m, but Kennedy will still be elated by the feat.

 

Athletics fans were very impressed by Kennedy’s run.

 

‘Hardly anyone had heard of Lachie Kennedy five months ago and now he’s a contender at top level,’ posted one X user.

 

‘Kennedy oh so close to the podium. Great run after a busy start to 2025,’ posted another.

 

Much-improved Australian Liam Adcock was a close second behind local favourite Zhang Mingkun in the men’s long jump.

 

World indoors bronze medallist Adcock (8.15m) looked the likely winner for much of the night, only for Zhang to claim victory with a leap of 8.18m in the penultimate round.

 

Australians Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers (both 1.94m) finished second and third respectively behind Paris Olympics gold medallist and world record-holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh in the women’s high jump.

 

The Ukrainian superstar claimed the win with a first-attempt clearance at 1.97m, before having three unsuccessful cracks at 2.03m.

 

The 21-year-old held his own against a world-class field on Saturday night

The 21-year-old held his own against a world-class field on Saturday night

Mahuchikh, Olyslagers and Patterson won gold, silver and bronze respectively at last year’s Olympics.

 

Australian Abbey Caldwell broke the Oceania record in the non-championship women’s 1000m with a time of 2:32.94.

 

Caldwell was second behind legendary Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, with another Australian, Sarah Billings, in third spot in 2:33.45.

 

Kipyegon clocked 2:29.21 to come within striking distance of Svetlana Masterkova’s world record of 2:28.98 set in 1996.

 

Rose Davies broke her own Australian women’s 5000m record, clocking 14 minutes 40.83 seconds when finishing ninth in a race won by Paris Olympics 5000m and 10,000m gold medallist Beatrice Chebet from Kenya in 14:27.12.

 

Davies’ previous national mark of 14:41.65 was set last year in Tokyo.

 

Norwegian star Karsten Warholm improved on his unofficial world record in the 300m hurdles, clocking 33.05sec.

 

Warholm shaved 0.21 off his previous mark set in Oslo in 2021, the same year he set the 400m hurdles world record.

 

While not an Olympic event, 300m hurdles will soon become an official world-record discipline, World Athletics recently announced.

 

American Anavia Battle was a surprise winner of the women’s 200m in 22.41, ahead of gun Jamaican Shericka Jackson (22.79).

 

Jackson is the second fastest woman ever over 200m, but missed last year’s Olympics due to injury.

 

Akani Simbine Reveals ‘Unfortunate’ Occurrence Prior to Winning 100m in Xiamen

 

Akani Simbine reigned supreme in Xiamen but it was not all smooth sailing. Find out what happened.

Akani Simbine won the the first Diamond League men’s 100m race of the season in China on April 26.

 

The South African cut the tape in 9.99 seconds at the Egret Stadium, rocketing over the line by finishing well clear of Ferdinand Omanyala who took the runner-up spot in 10.13 while British sprinter Jeremiah Azu completed the podium in 10.17 seconds.

 

Despite this achievement, Simbine, who was South Africa’s flag bearer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, revealed the unusual thing that happened midway the race.

 

How New Balance Spikes Helped Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Break Own 400-Meter Hurdle World Record at Paris Olympics

How New Balance Spikes Helped Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Break Own 400-Meter Hurdle World Record at Paris Olympics

What happened?

Akani Simbine Reveals ‘Unfortunate’ Occurrence Prior to Winning 100m in Xiamen

Akani Simbine. Photo. Imago

“The race felt good. I stumbled a bit after the 60 so I had to catch myself, but what happened to catch the wind while catching the win. Keep going with the momentum I have now going back to the basics,” Simbine told IOL.

 

Simbine, who finally won an Olympic silver medal as part of South Africa’s 4 x100m relay team in Paris, maintained that despite the setback, his focus was clear and he only willing to accomplish his mission.

 

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Sabastian Sawe Gives Kenya Another London Title as Marathon Legend Kipchoge Stumbles

“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,” he added.

 

Simbine, 31, reiterated that his win was priceless considering that he had to dig dip to sail to victory.

 

“I’m happy with putting the race together as I said before and getting the win.”

 

Simbine will remain in China for next Saturday’s second Diamond League meeting in Shanghai.

 

Akani Simbine achievements

Akani Simbine Reveals ‘Unfortunate’ Occurrence Prior to Winning 100m in Xiamen

Akani Simbine

Simbine is a three-time African Champion. He anchored South Africa to gold at the 2021 World Relays. Simbine has finished inside the top 5 in the last four major championship 100m races, including 4th at the 2019 World Championships and 2020 Summer Olympics missing out on the bronze medal to Canadian sprinter Andre De Grasse.

 

 

The Diamond League season kicked off with fireworks in Xiamen, and it was Akani Simbine who set the tone in electrifying fashion. In a field loaded with heavyweights, the South African sprint star refused to back down, storming to victory in the first 100m final of the season.

Going up against fierce competition, including Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, Simbine showed that experience, composure, and raw speed still rule the day when it matters most. But what about Tebogo?

 

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Well, Letsile Tebogo approached the Xiamen stage expecting a fresh start, but the night unfolded differently than he had hoped. Despite being one of the most hyped names on the start line, the Botswana star struggled to find his usual rhythm, ultimately fading to seventh place in the race. It was a tough pill to swallow for the Olympic 200m champion, who has been under the microscope ever since his early-season stumble in Pretoria. Still, after a disappointing finish, Tebogo didn’t shy away from facing the moment head-on.

 

In an interview with CITIUS MAG, Letsile Tebogo didn’t hide from the hard truths. In the YouTube video highlighting the reason behind the loss, the young sprinter offered a candid breakdown of what went wrong in Xiamen. “I mean, excited, good… long travels and everything, but I hate how I did today,” he admitted, reflecting the mix of anticipation and frustration he carried into the race.

 

 

 

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While he didn’t immediately catch the times flashing on the board, he still saw the bigger picture. “I believe it’s a great season opener for us,” Tebogo added, showing the kind of perspective that only comes from athletes with their eyes set on the long road ahead. Despite the sting of finishing seventh, Tebogo wasn’t making excuses. He spoke with the calm resolve of someone already planning his next move.

 

 

Absolutely, it’s a phenomenal feat regardless of the wind

 

No, the wind assistance makes it less impressive

 

Maybe, but let’s see him do it under legal conditions

 

I’m not sure, but it’s exciting to watch

 

With the UIL Outdoor Championships approaching, do you believe Brayden Williams will break the 10-second barrier legally?

 

Yes, he’s got the talent to do it

 

No, the wind played too big a role

 

Maybe, but it will be tough

 

I don’t care as long as he puts on a good show

 

Want to dive deeper?

Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.

 

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“For the weeks ahead, I’m just going to go back for… not really training, just to correct a few things that I’ve seen during the race that really, really, really, really are missing,” he said, emphasizing that even small errors can snowball at the highest level of competition. For a sprinter known for electrifying bursts, it was clear: a few minor missteps made a major difference on the scoreboard.

 

When you look at the full rundown of the race. Simbine blazing to a 9.99s, Ferdinand Omanyala chasing in at 10.13s, and even Jeremiah Azu grabbing third with a 10.17s. It’s easy to see how brutal the margins were. Tebogo’s 10.20s was a season’s best, but it wasn’t enough against a field this stacked.

 

Yet, he’s already looking ahead with optimism. “I believe the next one will be more amazing, and it will be great,” he said with a smile. If there’s one thing we know about Letsile Tebogo, it’s that you can count him down, but never out.

 

Letsile Tebogo’s journey of triumph and ambition

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Letsile Tebogo has become nothing short of a national treasure in Botswana and a global force on the track. His jaw-dropping 19.46-second sprint in the 200 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics didn’t just earn him a gold medal; it shook the world.

 

Tebogo’s victory set an African record and delivered Botswana its first-ever Olympic gold, sparking celebrations so massive that August 9 was declared a national holiday.

 

As a token of gratitude, the government even gifted him two houses, sealing his place as the pride of the nation. Tebogo has built his greatness in more than just one golden moment. He’s been on a record-shattering spree, clocking 9.86 in the 100m and an unprecedented 30.69 in the 300m. The fastest time ever recorded for that distance. With every meet, he hasn’t just chased records; he’s rewritten them.

 

 

 

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In the process, he has also challenged established giants like Noah Lyles. His dominance earned him the 2024 World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year title. A well-deserved recognition for someone who is redefining what’s possible for sprinters from emerging nations. Yet, even for icons, the path isn’t always smooth. Heading into the 2025 season, Tebogo took a bold gamble by stepping up to the 400m at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne.

 

“I will be stepping up to the challenge of the 400m. Starting the season with this long-distance challenge will set the stage for what’s ahead,” he said with trademark confidence. But the result fell flat even in 100m, triggering waves of doubt among fans used to seeing him dominate. Tebogo’s heart and hunger will drive him to rise even higher after this stumble, with his best chapters still to come.

 

 

 

 

Gorczyńska for Diamond League

Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet triumphed in her distance duel with Gudaf Tesgay, Mondo Duplantis won the pole vault and Shericka Jackson finished second on her return to the track as the 2025 Diamond League season got underway on Saturday.

 

Sweden’s Duplantis was the headline act at the Egret Stadium but there was to be no repeat of his record-breaking feats in Xiamen last year as he failed with three attempts at 6.01 metres to win with a jump of 5.92, well short of his world mark of 6.24.

 

With five months until the season peaks at the world championships in Tokyo in September, many athletes are still testing their bodies in competition after winter training.

 

Chebet was delighted with how she came through her race against world record holder Tesgay and nine other Ethiopians in the women’s 5 000m after pulling away down the home straight to win in 14 minutes and 27.12 seconds.

 

“The season is still new and I was not sure where the body is so I just thought I’d try to push because there were a lot of Ethiopians there,” she said.

 

“Thank God I was able to run good, my speed is still there, my 200 reaction is still there, so I’ll go back home and do more training and focus on the world championships.”

 

South African Akani Simbine and American Anavia Battle confirmed their fine early season form with victories in the showcase sprint races.

 

Simbine leads the world in the 100m so far this year and he powered to victory in 9.99 seconds ahead of Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala (10.13) and world indoor sprint champion Jeremiah Azu of Briton (10.17).

 

Battle, the only woman to run under 11 seconds in the 100m this season, scorched off the bend to beat world champion Jackson into second place in the women’s 200m in 22.41.

 

Jamaican Jackson, who clocked 22.79 with American Jenna Prandini third in 22.97, was happy with her first outing of the year in the event she dominated for two years until a leg injury ended her 2024 season before the Olympics.

 

“I just wanted to finish healthy and I’m healthy so I’m good,” she said. “I think I did pretty good tonight.”

 

KIPYEGON FALLS SHORT

 

Chebet’s compatriot and triple Olympic 1 500 champion Faith Kipyegon comfortably won the 1 000m but once again fell short of claiming the world record when she crossed the line in 2:29.21.

 

Ethiopian Samuel Firewu handed twice Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali a rare defeat in the 3 000m steeplechase, holding off the Moroccan after stumbling on the final hurdle to win in 8.05.61

 

Bayapo Ndori of Botswana won the men’s 400m in 44.25 seconds, while American Cordell Tinch stormed home to win the 110m hurdles in 13.06 seconds as Olympic champion Grant Holloway pulled up and finished last.

 

Karsten Warholm, the world record holder in the 400m hurdles, later lowered his own world best with a dominant win in 33.05 seconds in the 300m hurdles, an event only ratified by World Athletics in March.

 

Jamaican Danielle Williams, who will be going for a third world title in September, surged ahead of American Grace Stark off the final barrier to win the women’s high hurdles in 12.53 seconds.

 

There were no surprises in the women’s high jump as Ukraine’s Olympic and world champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh ran out of rivals at 1.97m, well short of her world record of 2.10.

 

Dutchwoman Jessica Schilder threw 20.47m with her opening effort to win the shot put ahead of world champion Chase Jackson, while American Valarie Allman took discus honours with a throw of 68.95m.

 

There was also Chinese success for the crowd to cheer when Zhang Mingkun won the men’s long jump ahead of Australian Liam Adcock with a leap of 8.18m.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Supporting Gatlin in his claims, co-host Rodney Green re-iterated, “They really aged. They both ran a 400 on the same exact day. 44.70 to 45.3.

That clip aged well.” While Gatlin rectified Green that Noah’s timing was 45.8, he went on to say that Kerley’s event was much better than that of Lyles. “That clip aged very well because 44.7. Fred has a lot more season in that event. He knows how to run it. He knows how to do it. Really good run,” Green opined. Surely, going purely based on timings, it does feel that Kerley has the upper hand. But let’s not forget that Lyles is not a regular 400m runner and the last time he ran was 9 years back! Quite expectedly fans quickly made their voices heard.

 

Fans lash out at Fred Kerley despite the support

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As soon as the video went viral, fans started to flock to the comments section. Fans weren’t buying the argument that Kerley’s comments “aged well” just because he ran a faster 400m. One fan pointed out, “The clip aged well cuz Noah ran the 400 for the first time in 9 years? Meanwhile Noah has beaten Fred in their last 3 matchups. Oh well, what do I know.” This highlights how the comparison feels weak, especially given Lyles’ dominance in recent races.

 

Another fan sarcastically remarked, “Shouldn’t be talking to a non 400 sprinter that cooks you in your own events 100 and 200m while you yourself was a world class 400 sprinter with a sup 44 time.” The fan questioned why Fred would boast about being superior when Lyles consistently beats him in the 100m and 200m, his own specialties.

 

 

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Several of the Caribbean’s biggest names will be in action on Saturday when the 2025 Wanda Diamond League season gets underway at the opening meeting in Xiamen, China.

 

Grenadian Olympic champion Kirani James will headline a strong field in the men’s 400m. James, a three-time Olympic medallist, will line up against newly crowned World Indoor champion Christopher Bailey, Belgium’s World Indoor silver medallist Alexander Doom, and seasoned American Vernon Norwood in what is expected to be a highly competitive contest.

 

 

In the men’s long jump, the Caribbean will be strongly represented by Jamaica’s Wayne Pinnock, the 2023 World Championship, 2024 Paris Olympics and 2025 World Indoor Championship silver medallist, who will do battle with compatriot and 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle among others in a stacked field.

 

 

Tokyo Olympics champion Hansle Parchment will take on a loaded field in the 110m hurdles that includes reigning world and Olympic champion Grant Holloway, Olympic silver medallist Daniel Roberts, and rising American star Cordell Tinch.

 

In the women’s sprints, two-time world 200m champion Shericka Jackson is set to open her 2025 Diamond League campaign in the half-lap event against a deep field featuring American standouts Jenna Prandini, Anavia Battle, Twanisha Terry, and Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji.

 

The men’s 100m will see former Jamaica national champion Rohan Watson lining up against a high-powered field that includes 2019 world champion Christian Coleman, Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, and Kenya’s African champion Ferdinand Omanyala.

 

 

In the women’s 100m hurdles, two-time world champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica will match strides with two-time World Indoor champion Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas, Olympic champion Nia Ali, world record holder Tobi Amusan, and Americans Grace Stark and Tonea Marshall.

 

 

Meanwhile, in the newly introduced 300m hurdles event, British Virgin Islands’ star Kyron McMaster, a two-time Diamond League winner over 400m hurdles, will take on an elite field featuring world record holder Karsten Warholm of Norway and American CJ Allen.

 

With world and Olympic champions across multiple disciplines ready to kick-start their seasons, Saturday’s Xiamen Diamond League is set to deliver fireworks as the Caribbean’s best face off again

st the world’s elite.