Diamond League Final 2024: Ackeem Blake scorches to men's 100m title in Brussels
The Jamaican made a strong start and picked up well in the second half of the race to take victory ahead of Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley.
Athletics
Ackeem Blake ran a fine all-round race to take the 100m title at the Diamond League Final in Brussels on Friday (13 September).
The 22-year-old Jamaican was only just behind fast-starting Christian Coleman in the early stages, and moved clear in the second half of the race to take victory in 9.93.
Coleman ran 10.00 in second, just holding off fellow American and former world champion Fred Kerley.
Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon was fourth in 10.09 with Akani Simbine back in fifth place.
This was a first Diamond league title for Blake at the end of a tumultuous season. After narrowly missing out on the Olympic final at Paris 2024, he was third at the Diamond League meeting in Silesia before finishing fourth in Rome. He saved his best for last, defying chilly conditions in the Belgian capital.
He told reporters afterwards, "For me, it was a surprise to win here today. It was a very competitive field and it was also my first DL final. This really means a lot to me. It was rather cold to sprint tonight, but still I ran a time pretty close to my personal best.
"I've been working very hard this season and I kept motivated. That's why I am so strong at the end of this season. I know what I am capable of and I know that this is only the beginning. There's much more to come in the next years."
Result from men's 100m at Memorial Van Damme (Diamond League Final), Brussels on 13 September 2024:
- Ackeem Blake (JAM) 9.93
- Christian Coleman (USA) 10.00
- Fred Kerley (USA) 10.01
- Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) 10.09
- Akani Simbine (RSA) 10.10
- Abdul Hakim Sani Brown (JPN) 10.10
- Brandon Hicklin (USA) 10.13
- Rohan Watson (JAM) 10.25