AFRICAN WRAP: Southern Africans show up in the sprints while world records threatened

With the Diamond League season winding down, the focus for many athletes is on earning the required points to qualify for next month’s final in Brussels.

The top six-ranked athletes in the field events, top eight for 100m-800m and the top 10 for 1500m and long-distance events will qualify for the 13-14 September meet.

Maximum points were secured by several African athletes as action resumed in Rome on Friday night. We take a look at some of the standout African performances…

Unstoppable Tebogo lights up shorter sprint – Men’s 100m

There’s been no doubt about Botswana's Letsile Tebogo’s dominance in the 200m this season, having secured Olympic gold just a few weeks ago and following that up with two impressive Diamond League performances. But in Rome he switched focus to the shorter sprint and it was a case of different distance, same result for the 21-year-old. Tebogo came through powerfully in the final 30 metres to win in 9.87 seconds, leaving Americans Christian Coleman (9.92) and Fred Kerley (9.95) in his wake.

“This was one of my best 100 metre races,” said Tebogo afterwards. “Before this, I imagined what the perfect race over 100 would look like. You have to lock in into your mind and then it can happen. Today I had a great start and it made me think ´Why did I not have one like this in the Olympic final?’”

Samukonga’s dream season continues – Men’s 400m

Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga is having the season of his life which included clinching Olympic bronze in national record time in Paris. In Rome, the 21-year-old stormed to victory with his third sub-44 second time of the season - 43.99 - to beat 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada (44.30) and former world indoor champion Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago (44.55).

“My life changed completely this year. It is hard to even explain this fully… The win at the Diamond League means a lot,” said Samukonga afterwards. “Running sub-44 is not easy, you have to be at top level to do that. I still have the Diamond League final coming up. Anything is possible there. I do not want to say what I will do, I just want to run my best.”

Kenya’s middle distance queen cruises to another win – Women’s 1500m

Some unreliable pacemaking in a race that was billed as a possible world record attempt meant Faith Kipyegon was unlikely to improve her own mark set in early July. The three-time Olympic champion nevertheless had no trouble cruising to victory in a time of 3:52.89 with Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu producing a personal best time to finish second in 3:54.16 with her teenage compatriot Birke Haylom coming in third in 3:54.79.

“I am so happy. I am satisfied with the pace and with how the race went,” said Kipyegon. It was all about qualifying for the Diamond League final, about getting the points. I enjoyed the race, but I did not see the time.”

Ugandan national record for Chemutai – Women’s 3000m steeple chase

Another of the world record attempts on the night came in the women’s 3000m steeple chase with both 2024 Olympic champion Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi and 2020 Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda setting their sights on Beatrice Chepkoech’s six-year-old mark. The race set off at a blistering pace but a slightly slower penultimate lap looked like it meant the record was slipping away. Yavi put in her characteristic final devastating kick though, and just missed the mark by seven-hundredths of a second, finishing in 8:44.39 with Chemutai having to settle for second place in a national record time of 8:48.03. Kenya’s Faith Cherotich was third in 8:57.65. Yavi and Chemutai’s times were the second and third-fastest in history.

“I feel good and I am very happy. Yet, I came here for the world record and I missed it. But I still achieved a national record. The world record will be for next time,” said Chemutai afterwards. “I kind of paced this race for Yavi. I knew that Yavi has this strong kick at the end. But I planned this race with my coach and my management, unfortunately I missed the world record. I guess I need to train more for the final 100m. I will celebrate this national record tonight.”

Ethiopian clean sweep – Men’s 5000m

As has so often been the case this season, the men’s 5000m was a tightly contested race with the top five all finishing within one second of each other. Eventual winner Hagos Gebrhiwet explained afterwards that he and his Ethiopian compatriots worked together. The plan clearly worked with the east African nation securing the top three spots and five of the top six. Rio Olympic bronze medallist Gebrhiwet took the win in 12:51.07 with Yomif Kejelcha second in 12:51.25, and 2020 Olympic 10 000m champion Selemon Barega third 12:51.39.

“This was a very nice race and the track is fast, so I am really happy,” said Gebrhiwet after the race. “Our tactics are that we Ethiopians work together, we have many good Ethiopian 5k runners and if one of us gets tired, another can help out with the pace. I knew I am not alone. I trained a lot for my last 300 to 400 metres, for the final kick and this helped me tonight.”