Simbine not happy with race but happy to win for the second Diamond League in a row
Akani Simbine made it two wins in two Diamond League 100m appearances when he came from behind to pip Jamaican, Kishane Thompson to the top prize of $10,000 and the maximum eight points when the 2025 Diamond League train made its second stop in Keqiao/Shanghai on Saturday.
The South African ran 9.98 to win ahead of Thompson who ran 9.99 while Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo came third in 10.03.
The two Africans in the race, Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon and Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya came in fourth (10.07) and eighth (10.25) respectively.
Simbine, the World leader in the event at 9.90, sit atop the 100m standing with 16 points from the two 100m races decided so far.
‘I’m not happy with the race but taking the win is good. I’m not happy with the start, it is just frustrating that I did not get it right today, but I was at least able to make up for that mistake and get the win.
‘I have World Relays and then Atlanta the following week and then on to the Diamond League in Morocco. It is a busy May but I’m looking forward to working on what I need to work on to get better,’ said Simbine after the race.
He will now wait in China for the South African team for the World Relays to arrive ahead of the competition which will be used as selection trials for the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan this September.
