South African sprinter Akani Simbine led a host of African stars to victory at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Sunday.
The 29-year-old former African 100-metre record holder was first to the finish line in the men’s sprint finals with a time of 9.97 seconds to win his second straight win of the Diamond League season.
Photo finish in the 100m!
Just 0.02 seconds between the first four and @AkaniSimbine just takes it in 9.97.
A huge win – and a second a in a row in the #DiamondLeague – for the South African.#SilesiaDL ????????
???? @matthewquine pic.twitter.com/z0MPEWyATn— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 16, 2023
He defeated reigning world champion Fred Kerley, while Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme finished in third and Cravont Charleston, who led for the larger part of the race, ended in fourth place.
Nigerian sprinter and world record holder Tobi Amusan won the 100m hurdle with a season’s best time of 12:34 seconds, beating America’s Kendra Harrison.
In the women’s 3000m event, it was an African 1-2-3 finish as Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu won the race in a time of 8:26.62 to set a new meeting record.
Hailu's on ????
Two weeks after her 1500m win in Stockholm, Ethiopia's Freweyni Hailu takes the 3000m at #SilesiaDL ???????? with a meeting record of 8:26.61#DiamondLeague
???? @macroprophoto pic.twitter.com/pbQAE1rhks— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 16, 2023
The 22-year-old, who won the 1500m event at the Stockholm Diamond League two weeks ago, was followed by Kenya’s Lilian Rengeruk in second, while her sister Freweyni Hailu finished in third.
World record holder Wayde van Niekerk cruised to a comfortable victory in the 400-metre men’s event. The South African won the race with a new meeting record of 44.08 seconds for his best time of 2023.
The comeback continues!@WaydeDreamer clocks a season's best and meeting record of 44.08 in the 400m. #SilesiaDL ????????#DiamondLeague
???? @macroprophoto pic.twitter.com/0nTYlJdKPK— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 16, 2023
Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga, the fastest man in the 400m this year, pulled up injured from the start, ending his race earlier than expected.
Likewise, Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori equaled his personal best of 44.61 seconds to finish second, Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (44.73 seconds) finished third, and van Niekerk’s compatriot Zakithi Nene also finished with a personal best time of 44.74 seconds to finish fourth.
8:03.16
That's another meeting record as Soufiane El Bakkali cruises to victory in the 3000m steeplechase. #SilesiaDL ????????#DiamondLeague
???? @macroprophoto pic.twitter.com/Z7Blv725bF— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 16, 2023
Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali also finished comfortably in the 3000-metre steeplechase to win in a time of 8:03.16, setting another meeting record. Kenyan duo Abraham Kibiwot and Leonard Bett finished in second and third, respectively.
Finally, in the 800m women’s event, Kenya’s Mary Moraa held on for a late victory by pulling clear in the final 50 metres to win in a meeting record of 1:56.85.
1:56.85!#DiamondLeague champion Mary Moraa grabs her third 800m win of the season with a season's best and a meeting record. #SilesiaDL ????????#DiamondLeague
???? @matthewquine pic.twitter.com/LODDe05SEY— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 16, 2023
Former world record holder Halimah Nakaayi set a new Ugandan national record to finish second in a time of 1:57.78, while Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin ended in third.
