It was an excellent weekend on the track for South Africa’s athletes, with two of the country’s finest setting world leads in their respective events.
We take a look at their performances and some of the other star African achievers around the world over the last few days…
SEKGODISO SIZZLES IN MARRAKECH – WOMEN’S 800M MARRAKECH DIAMOND LEAGUE
Prudence Sekgodiso produced the performance of the night at the only Diamond League meet to be staged on the African continent this season. The 22-year-old South African looked in control throughout the women’s 800m, biding her time and then kicking down the home straight to get the better of Ethiopia’s Olympic finalist Habitam Alemu. Sekgodiso’s winning time of 1:57.26 was not only a big personal best taking her to her first Diamond League victory, but also the fastest women’s 800m time in the world this season.
South Africa's Prudence Sekgodiso puts in a sublime performance to win the 1500m and record a world-leading time at the #MarrakechDL 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/xVH7cW2ip5
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 19, 2024
Alemu was second in 1:57.70 with Benin’s Noélie Yarigo third in 1:59.96.
ANOTHER BOLD STATEMENT FROM SIMBINE – MEN’S 100M ATLANTA CITY GAMES
Two-time Olympic finalist Akani Simbine produced South Africa’s other world lead of the weekend, storming to victory in the 100m on a makeshift track at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in a speedy 9.90 seconds. His trademark powerful finish saw him surging ahead of Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala who was second in 10.00 seconds.
9.90 💨💨
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 19, 2024
Akani Simbine clocked a world-leading time at the Adidas Atlanta City Games to claim the 100m win 🇿🇦
Ferdinand Omanyala completed an African one-two 🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/HvYu0Bt421
Meanwhile, Simbine’s 9.90 saw him completing an incredible decade of sub-10 times in the 100m. Little wonder he’s been dubbed Mr Consistency.
EISA EDGES FINAL SPRINT – WOMEN’S 5000M MARRAKECH DIAMOND LEAGUE
The women’s 5 000m in Marrakech came down to a frantic final sprint between two Ethiopians with Medina Eisa just edging out Fotyen Tesfay for the win. After settling for third spot at the Doha Diamond League meet, Eisa claimed the win in a time of 14:34.16 with Tesfay finishing second by five-hundredths of a second. Her time of 14:34.21 was a new personal best as was Kenyan Edinah Jebitok’s 14:35.64 for third place.
TEEN STEAMS TO ANOTHER WIN – MEN’S 800M MARRAKECH DIAMOND LEAGUE
Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi has already recorded the fastest time in the world this year over 800m but he didn’t look entirely comfortable in Marrakech on Sunday. The 19-year-old star had to dig deep over the final 150m to stay ahead of compatriot Wyclife Kinyamal and win in a speedy time of 1:43.84 with Kinyamal second in 1:43.98.
Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi storms to victory in the 800m at the #MarrakechDL 👏🇰🇪 pic.twitter.com/sbVpAV3BZx
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 19, 2024
ESEME EASES TO SPRINT VICTORY – MEN’S 100M MARRAKECH DIAMOND LEAGUE
Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme ensured his name remains in the mix of top African sprinters by producing a season’s best to win the men’s 100m in Marrakech. The African Games champion’s time of 10.11 seconds saw him edging out a field that included Canada’s Olympic 200m champion Andre de Grasse, who was second in 10.19.
A brilliant run from Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme who claims the win in the 100m at the #MarrakechDL 🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/t4QF78hDLJ
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 19, 2024
SOUTHERN AFRICANS STAR OVER ONE LAP – MEN’S 400M MARRAKECH DIAMOND LEAGUE
There were five African contenders in the men’s 400m, but they were outgunned by Belgium’s world indoor champion Alexander Doom, who just held on to take the title in 44.51 seconds. Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga was next best in 44.54 with Botswana's Bayapo Ndori third in 44.59 and South Africa’s Lythe Pillay fourth in 44.78.
HOME JOY FOR EL BAKKALI – MEN’S 3000M STEEPLECHASE MARRAKECH DIAMOND LEAGUE
Morocco’s Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali gave the home crowd exactly what they came to see which was a victory in the 3000m steeplechase. While his winning time of 8:09.40 was well off the personal best of 7:56.68 he recorded at last season’s Diamond League meet on home soil in Rabat, it still places the world and Olympic champion third in the world this year. Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale was second in 8:09.78 with Kenya’s Amos Serem third in a season’s best 8:10.82.
HALIMAH ON A HIGH – WOMEN’S 800M USATF LOS ANGELES GRAND PRIX
Halimah Nakaayi blazed her name in the history books by running the 800m faster than any Ugandan woman before her. In a race that was decided by a minute six-thousandths of a second, the 29-year-old edged the victory ahead of Ethiopian Tsige Duguma at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix in a new national record time of 1:57.56 – then the fastest time in the world this year. That world lead lasted just one day, however, until South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso took it down even further in Marrakech.
12 MEN UNDER OLYMPIC QUALIFIER – MEN’S 5000M USATF LOS ANGELES GRAND PRIX
A remarkable 5 000m in LA saw a whopping 12 athletes dipping under the Olympic qualifying time of 13:05.00. Several had already achieved the mark, but it was the first time in the qualifying period for a relieved defending Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda who finished third in 12:52.38. Up ahead it was Ethiopia’s Selemon Berega who claimed the win in a world lead of 12:51.60 with compatriot Berihu Aregawi second in 12:52.09