Simbine aims to ‘keep my head down’ after clocking a superb 9.90 seconds.

By Karien Jonckheere.

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.

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. Alemu was second in 1:57.70 with Benin’s Noélie Yarigo third in 1:59.96.

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.

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.

Simbine says he won’t let his world-lead performance in Atlanta on Saturday “get to my head”.

“So, I’m just really happy that I could come out and race on heavy legs, and race well, and put together a good series of 10.10 in the heat and just drop it from that to 9.90. So, it shows where we are at right now, and I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season.

“The track is always going to be bouncy – it’s a different surface, it’s not on the ground. It’s something that you will have to get used to, and just keep on running and expect bounce – just take it on in your stride.”

Women’e 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.

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.

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