Akani Simbine burns rubber at the Diamond League series in Xiamen
The 31-year-old sprinter rocketed over the line in 9.99 seconds ahead of Kenyan athlete Ferdinand Omanyala, who took the runner-up spot in 10.13. British sprinter Jeremiah Azu ended third in 10.17.
Olympian Akani Simbine on Saturday, 27 April 2025, at the opening leg of the Diamond League series in Xiamen, China. Picture: Marta Gorczyńska for @Diamond_League/X.
JOHANNESBURG – Olympian Akani Simbine burned rubber on Saturday as he dominated the men's 100m race at the opening leg of the Diamond League series in Xiamen, China.
The 31-year-old sprinter rocketed over the line in 9.99 seconds ahead of Kenyan athlete Ferdinand Omanyala, who took the runner-up spot in 10.13. British sprinter Jeremiah Azu ended third in 10.17.
The other athletes in the race were Botswana’s 200m Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo, American speedster Christian Coleman and 60m world indoor champion Jeremiah Azu of Britain.
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Olympic gold medallist Tebogo and former world champion Christian Coleman finished fourth and sixth, respectively.
The Olympic silver medallist Simbine defeated Omanyala two weeks ago at the Botswana Grand Prix in Gaborone.
Marione Fourie took third place in the women's 100m hurdles race in 12.62, with Jamaica's Danielle Williams securing victory in 12.53.
Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane du Plessis ended sixth in the women's javelin throw with a best effort of 60.38m, while Greek athlete Elina Tzengko took the win with a 64.75 m throw.
Lythe Pillay was seventh in the men's 400m sprint in 45.28, in a race won by Bayapo Ndori of Botswana in 44.25.