Star South African sprinter Akani Simbine maintained his brilliant form this season when he won the 100m at the second Diamond League meeting, in Shanghai, adding to the opening race on the circuit that he won in Xiamen, China.
The 31-year-old, a medallist in the 60m at the World Indoors in March, is unbeaten over 100 metres this season and on Saturday he dipped at exactly the right time to pip Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson, winning in 9.98 seconds. The American was credited with 9.99.
Thompson, Simbine and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo were quickest away and for 90 metres Thompson looked as though he had the race won. However, Simbine stayed in the moment, remained relaxed and caught his rival in the lane on his inside and snatched the victory. Tebogo was third.
Other South Africans in action were Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane van Dyk in the women’s javelin and Lythe Pillay in the men’s 400m.
Van Dyk placed third behind Greece’s Elina Tzengko and China’s Quianquian Dai following a best throw of 62.53m. The South African led after three of the six rounds, and was one of only three throwers to go over 60 metres, but she settled for a creditable third.
Pillay had to contend with the awkward lane nine in the men’s 400m and he crossed the line eighth in 45.39, which was slightly slower than his season’s best of 44.97.
Words by Gary Lemke
