South African sprinting icon Akani Simbine raced to the fastest time in the 100 metres in the world this year when he stopped the clock at 9.90 seconds at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix.
In his first race since securing the first individual global medal of his career at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, 60m bronze medallist Simbine stepped back up to the 100m in style, despite facing a -1.4m/sec headwind.
He was put under pressure from Kenya’s African record-holder Ferdinand Omanyala, but Simbine had the stronger finish and he strode ahead in the final metres.
The women’s 100m was won by South Africa’s 17-year-old Hanna Hope Vermaak in 11.44, the same time as runner-up Viwe Jingqi.
Former world 400m hurdles record-holder Muhammad continued her farewell season with a dominant victory. The 2019 world champion clocked 53.81 to triumph ahead of her US compatriot Cassandra Tate (55.59), while a close men’s race was won by South Africa’s Njabulo Mbatha in 49.06.
Lining up alongside South Africa’s Luxolo Adams in the 200m, Tebogo got a strong start and ran alongside Adams, on his outside, around the bend. But the African record-holder, who clocked 19.46 to win his Olympic 200m title in Paris, cruised down the home straight and eased up on his approach to the finish line, winning in a comfortable 20.23. Adams was second in 20.42.
The event featured two 200m races and the first was won by South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile in 20.01.
