Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League 2024: South Africa's Akani Simbine sprints to men's 100m victory
South Africa’s Akani Simbine upset former world champions Fred Kerley and Christian Coleman to win the men’s 100m at the Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League track and field athletics meet on Saturday (27 April).
The former African record holder showed superior top-end speed to pull away from the two men on his inside dipping in a winning time of 10.01 seconds.
Coleman’s characteristic blistering start was not enough to give him back-to-back victories and had to be content with second place with a season's best 10.04s. Kerley, who finished second behind Coleman in Xiamen a week ago, settled for third in 10.11s.
Simbine had some work to do running shoulder-to-shoulder with Kerley and trailing a flying Coleman. The Olympic finalist found the next gear chasing Coleman down to take the victory to match his season’s best from the South African national championships.
“I knew the field here would be strong but I just had to replicate what I did last week at the South African Championships,” Simbine said after the race.
“This has built a lot of confidence leading into the Olympic year. This helps build momentum, which I hope to build on further as the season progresses."
Results from Xiamen Diamond League men's 100m, Saturday 20 April 2024:
- Akani Simbine (RSA) 10.01
- Christian Coleman (USA) 10.04
- Fred Kerley (USA) 10.11
- Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) 10.17
- Ackeem Blake (JAM) 10.23
- Rohan Watson (JAM) 10.29
- Brandon Carnes (USA) 10.35
- Kiryu Yoshihide (JPN) 10.37
- Chen Guanfeng (CHN) 10.47