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.

From the sun-soaked tracks of Gainesville, Florida, a Saint Lucian sprinting sensation is rewriting the script of track and field. Julien Alfred, the 23-year-old dynamo, has been turning heads with her blistering speed and jaw-dropping versatility across events. Hailing from the small Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, Alfred has already etched her name in history as the nation’s first Olympic medalist, snagging gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m at Paris 2024.

This season, she’s been a force of nature, seamlessly transitioning from relays to individual sprints, leaving fans and analysts alike buzzing with excitement. But what happened at the Miramar Invitational and Tom Jones Invitational that’s got everyone talking?

Watch What’s Trending Now!

On April 5, 2025, at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, Alfred stormed to victory in the women’s 300m, clocking a national record-breaking 36.05 seconds to edge out Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the two-time 200m world champion, who finished in 36.13 seconds.

This razor-thin 0.08-second margin wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. The Miramar Invitational, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet, set the stage for Alfred to prove she’s a force beyond her signature 100m and 200m. How did this performance resonate with track royalty?

American track legend Justin Gatlin, a former Olympic and world champion, was left stunned by Alfred’s display. On his Ready Set Go show, Gatlin erupted with enthusiasm: “This girl this season thus far has been super impressive from the 4×4 since she ran to the 400 300 I’m going I’m getting to that down to the 300 that she ran in Miramar Invitational about a week ago”.

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Speaking about her recent Tom Jones Memorial Invitational 2025 performance, Justin said, “now she opened up with her 200 here at Tom Jones where she ran the world lead and only two 100s off of her personal best she ran 21.88 and she made it look so easy”, referring to her clocking a swift 21.88 seconds, she dominated the Olympic Development 200 meters at the Tom Jones Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. Gatlin’s reaction highlights Alfred’s unexpected dominance in longer sprints. What makes her victory over Jackson so significant?

Do you think Julien Alfred’s victory over Shericka Jackson marks the beginning of a new sprinting rivalry?

Yes, it’s the start of something big

No, Jackson will bounce back stronger

Maybe, but it’s too early to tell

I don’t care as long as the races are exciting

Do you think Brayden Williams’ wind-assisted 9.82 seconds should be celebrated as a historic achievement?

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

How do you feel about Stephen Nedoroscik’s transformation from a competitor to a co-host on the DWTS Live Tour?

Inspired by his journey

Surprised by his unexpected role

Indifferent, it’s just another gig

Proud of his growth and success

Do you think the behind-the-scenes challenges shared by Stephen add to the allure of the DWTS Live Tour?

Yes, it makes the tour more relatable

No, it should remain a polished performance

Maybe, but it depends on the challenges

I don’t care about the backstage details

Want to dive deeper?

Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.

Why Alfred’s win over Jackson at Miramar matters more

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Shericka Jackson, with a 21.41-second 200m personal best and five Olympic medals, is no easy opponent. Her 2024 season was derailed by an injury at the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, forcing her to miss the Paris Olympics. Her return in 2025, marked by a 7.18-second 60m silver at the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Development Meet, signaled she was regaining form.

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Yet, Alfred’s ability to outrun Jackson in Miramar, especially in a 300m race that tests both speed and stamina, underscores her evolution as a multi-dimensional sprinter. This win wasn’t just about beating a legend—it was about setting the tone for a potential rivalry that could define 2025. Can Alfred keep this momentum going?

As a fan, you feel the electricity of moments like these. Alfred’s triumph isn’t just a personal victory; it’s a beacon of pride for Saint Lucia and a wake-up call to sprinting’s elite.

With the Tokyo World Championships on the horizon, her Miramar performance shows she’s ready to challenge the likes of Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas. Gatlin’s awe reflects what we’re all thinking: Alfred is rewriting the sprinting narrative. Will she dominate the 100m and 200m or surprise us again in longer events? One thing’s certain—track and field’s newest star is just getting warmed up.

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Top-tier performances lit up the 2025 Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, held Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 in Gainesville, Florida, as some of the world’s leading sprinters and hurdlers opened their outdoor seasons with blazing times.

Julien Alfred Dominates in Season-Opening 200m

Saint Lucia’s Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred kicked off her 2025 campaign with authority, clocking 21.88 (0.2m/s) to dominate the women’s 200m. The performance is the second-fastest wind-legal time ever recorded this early in the year and narrowly missed her national record of 21.86 from London 2024. Alfred’s margin of victory—nearly half a second—underscored her form. Nigeria’s Favour Ofili took second in 22.34, followed by Tamari Davis (22.37) and Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke (22.57).

Women’s 200m Olympic Dev. Heat 1 Results

POS. NAME MARK

1 Julien Alfred 21.88

2 Favour Ofili 22.34

3 Tamari Davis 22.37

4 Rhasidat Adeleke 22.57

5 Daryll Neita 22.89

6 Niesha Burgher 23.09

DNS Thelma Davies

Charamba Breaks 20 Seconds, Fahnbulleh Impresses

Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba made headlines in the men’s 200m, running a lifetime best of 19.99 (-0.8m/s) to break the 20-second barrier. In a separate heat, Liberian Olympic finalist Joseph Fahnbulleh posted a strong 20.07 (1.3m/s) to secure the win.

Sprint Hurdles: Cunningham and Stark Upset the Olympic Champions

In Saturday’s sprint hurdles, USA’s Trey Cunningham edged out Olympic champion Grant Holloway, posting a sharp 13.09 (1.5m/s) in his season debut—just 0.09 off his personal best. Holloway, returning for his first race since his World Indoor 60m hurdles triumph, finished second in 13.18. Dylan Beard rounded out the top three in 13.33.

On the women’s side, Grace Stark opened her season in style, winning the 100m hurdles final in 12.59 (-0.7m/s). She had earlier qualified with a swift 12.51 (0.2m/s) in the heats. Masai Russell finished runner-up in 12.65, with Christina Clemons third in 12.82.

Men’s 400m Produces Early World Lead

The men’s 400m saw two world-leading marks fall within minutes. First, Jacory Patterson won his heat in 44.27, while Noah Lyles, contesting his first professional 400m, ran 45.87 for fifth. Just two heats later, Chris Robinson—primarily a 400m hurdler—surged to a massive PB of 44.15, overtaking Patterson’s mark to claim the new world lead. Matthew Boling followed in 44.92.

Lyles, though out of his usual distance, also delivered fireworks in the 4x100m relay, anchoring a stacked Team USA alongside Christian Coleman, Pjai Austin, and Erriyon Knighton to a commanding win in 37.90.

Women’s 400m and 100m Sparkle

Aaliyah Butler delivered the day’s fastest women’s 400m, slicing more than half a second off her previous best to clock 49.44, signaling her arrival on the global scene.

Meanwhile, Anavia Battle became the first woman in 2025 to break the 11-second barrier in the 100m, recording a new personal best of 10.98 (1.6m/s).

In the men’s Olympic Development 100m final, Kanyinsola Ajayi, clocked wind legal 9.96 for the win (the 2nd fastest time this year in the world.

With multiple world leads, personal bests, and promising season openers, the 2025 Tom Jones Memorial delivered a powerful preview of what’s to come this year in global track and field.

Usain Bolt has had one of his most sprinting records taken from him as the World Athletics pond a controversial change to the track.

Bolt is the fastest man alive over both 100m and 200m and has eight Olympic gold medals to his name as well as a slew of records.

His insane world record time of 9.58 seconds, set in Berlin at the World Athletics Championships in 2009, has been well out of reach for any other sprinter that has come along.

Despite Noah Lyles and Gout Gout being mentioned, Bolt himself has said that compatriot Oblique Seville, coached by his former trainer is the one capable of usurping him one day.

However, last week, South African sprinter Akani Simbine recorded a hugely impressive achievement which knocked Bolt off his perch.

He became the first sprinter to run sub-10 seconds in the 100m for 11 years on the trot. Bolt managed it for a decade but Simbine, a silver medalist with South Africa in the Paris Olympics, has now achieved the feat for an extra year.

Simbine did it at the Botswana Grand Prix, where he clocked in at a world-leading 2025 time of 9.90 seconds in the 100m race.

However, that could be about to change in the near future after it was claimed that the Jamaican sensation’s record could be beaten if a ‘super track’ is approved by the World Athletics.

Alvina Chen, a Hong Kong-born sprinter, is the brains behind the the world’s first digital ‘smart’ track, which is expected to be “20 per cent faster than the Paris Olympic track”.

Feldspar chief Chen believes that with the huge advancements, “early nine seconds if not sub nine seconds for a human” is possible on “the world’s fastest running surface” – therefore eclipsing Bolt.

Usain Bolt is comfortably the fastest man alive. Image: Getty

Usain Bolt is comfortably the fastest man alive.

The idea has spawned from a laboratory near Cambridge, with sensors around the track providing ‘a raft of real-time data’,

It’s said that “positive talks” have been held with World Athletics and Bolt’s long-time rival and second fastest man in history, Tyson Gay, has weighed in with his verdict.

On an Instagram posted shared by co-designers Feldspar, he wrote: “Looking forward to seeing the development of this… pretty awesome.”

Former British sprinter Darren Campbell is involved in the development, having joined Feldspar as their Global Track Strategy Director in September 2024.

Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu celebrates winning world indoor 60m gold

Jeremiah Azu won world indoor 60m gold in March, 13 days after winning the first individual international title of his career at the European Indoors

Who to watch out for in Xiamen

After winning the first global title of his career with world indoor 60m gold in March, Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu begins his push for outdoor success.

The 23-year-old will have Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, American Christian Coleman and South Africa’s Akani Simbine for company in a stacked race.

Swedish pole vault star Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis competes in the men’s pole vault after breaking the men’s world record for an 11th time in February.

In Xiamen one year ago, Duplantis posted the earliest world record in a Diamond League season before going on to win a fourth trophy.

Having announced this week that in June she will attempt to become the first woman to run a sub-four minute mile, three-time Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon will contest the women’s 1,000m in Xiamen.

The Kenyan, whose personal best is just 0.17 seconds slower than the world record of two minutes and 28.98 seconds, is joined in that race by Olympic 800m silver medallist Tsige Duguma and GB’s Erin Wallace.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Amy Hunt lines up in the women’s 200m against Jamaica’s two-time world champion in the event Shericka Jackson, while Morgan Lake competes against Ukraine’s Olympic high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

The inaugural Diamond League men’s 300m hurdles features the event’s world record holder Karsten Warholm, while four-time global champion Grant Holloway goes in the men’s 110m hurdles.

Key Diamond League timings

10:15 BST – Women’s high jump featuring GB’s Morgan Lake and Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh

10:35 BST – Men’s pole vault featuring world record holder Mondo Duplantis

11:40 BST – Men’s 110m hurdles featuring Olympic champion Grant Holloway

11:50 BST – Women’s 200m featuring GB’s Amy Hunt and Jamaica’s two-time world champion Shericka Jackson

12:01 BST – Men’s 100m featuring GB’s Jeremiah Azu and Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo

12:10 BST – Women’s 1,000m featuring three-time Olympic gold medallist Faith Kipyegon and GB’s Erin Wallace

12:52 BST – Men’s 300m hurdles featuring Norway’s world record holder Karsten Warholm

How does the Diamond League work?

The 2024 Diamond League winners celebrate with their trophies on a podium

Image caption, The Diamond League Final will be held in Zurich for the first time since 2022

Athletes will compete for points at the 14 regular series meetings from April to August.

Points are awarded on a scale from eight for first place to one for eighth place.

After the 14th meeting in Brussels, the top six ranked athletes in the field events, the top eight in track events from 100m up to 800m, and the top 10 in the distances from 1500m upwards qualify for the final.

The two-day finals are a winner-takes-all competition to be crowned Diamond League champion in each event.

Thompson, Jackson and Fraser-Pryce named for World Relays

Olympic Games 100m silver medalist Kishane Thompson as well as Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have been named in Jamaica’s team to the 2025 World Athletics Relays to be held May 10 and 11 in Guangzhou, China.

Jamaica will participate in five events over the two days, both men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m relays.

There has also been a recall for veteran Yohan Blake as part of the men’s 4x100m pool, according to a release sent out by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association on Thursday.

Thompson leads the men’s 4x100m relay pool that also includes Ackeem Blake, Rohan Watson, Julian Forte and Bryan Levell.

Jackson and Fraser-Pryce are part of the women’s sprint relay pool that also includes the Clayton twins- Olympic finalist Tai and Tina, US based Niesha Burgher, World Under-20 100m gold medalist Alana Reid and Natasha Morrison.

The women’s 4x400m relay pool sees the likes of Stacey-Ann Williams, Roneisha McGregor, Shiann Salmon and Kelly-Ann Beckford while the men’s team will include Rusheen McDonald, Zandrion Barnes, Malik James-King and Tarees Rhoden.

HEALTHY REWARDS

Team

Women

Niesha Burgher, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Serena Cole, Shericka Jackson,

Natasha Morrison, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Alana Reid, Krystal Sloley, Shana Kaye Anderson, Kelly-Ann Beckford, Roneisha McGregor, Shiann Salmon, Ronda Whyte, Jodean Williams and Stacey-Ann Williams.

Men

Ackeem Blake, Yohan Blake, Julian Forte, Rasheed Foster, Bryan Levell,

Javari Thomas, Kishane Thompson, Rohan Watson, Zandrion Barnes, Javier Brown, Demar Francis, Malik James-King, Delano Kennedy, Rusheen McDonald and Tarees Rhoden.