Akani Simbine maintained his remarkable 2025 form when he won the men’s 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat on Sunday. The South African superstar headed to Morocco as the favourite in a strong field, and didn’t disappoint, making it a hat-trick of Diamond League wins this season.
There were a total of 10 South Africans in action. Simbine won the 100m while Zakithi Nene finished second in the 400m.
Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala made a fast start to the 100m with Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and Fred Kerley sluggishly away. But it was Simbine who found his stride in the middle of the race, passing Omanyala and coming home well in front in 9.95, just outside his season’s best of 9.90.
Omanyala was a tenth behind Simbine in second with Kerley taking third in 10.07. Shaun Maswanganyi, a Paris 2024 teammate of Simbine, finished sixth in 10.19.
The USA’s Jacory Patterson produced a sensational finish down the home straight to overhaul long-time leader Nene in the 400m. His time of 44.37 is only 0.04 seconds outside of the Rabat meeting record.
Nene was unlucky but he just didn’t have enough left in the last 10m and clocked a time of 44.46. Olympic champion Quincy Hall was third in 44.90.
SOUTH AFRICANS IN RABAT ACTION
Men’s 100m: 1st Akani Simbine 9.95, 6th Shaun Maswanganyi 10.19 (SB).
Men’s 400m: 2nd Zakithi Nene 44.46
Men’s 1500m: 15th Tshepo Tshite 3:36.22
Women’s 400mH: 5th Zeney van der Walt 55.37, 9th Rogail Joseph 57.91 (SB)
