South African sprinter Akani Simbine claimed victory at the Shanghai Diamond League, defeating a star-studded field that included Kishane Thompson, Letsile Tebogo, and Christian Coleman.
Despite securing his third sub-10-second finish of the season and a second consecutive Diamond League win, Akani expressed frustration with his performance in Shanghai on Saturday. The 31-year-old edged out Olympic silver medalist Kishane Thompson, world champion Christian Coleman, African rival Ferdinand Omanyala, and rising star Letsile Tebogo in a tightly contested race.
A Narrow Win, But Not Enough
Simbine crossed the line in 9.98 seconds, just ahead of Thompson (9.99) and Tebogo (10.03). While the victory extended his impressive early-season form, following wins in Gaborone (9.90) and Xiamen (9.99), the South African was critical of his execution.
“Another win. I’m not happy with the race, but taking the win is good,” Akani admitted.
“I’m not happy with the start. It’s frustrating that I didn’t get it right today, but I was at least able to make up for that mistake and get the win.”
Aiming for Perfection Ahead of a Busy Season
With the World Relays in Guangzhou, an Atlanta meet, and the Diamond League in Doha all lined up for May, he knows there’s little room for error.
“It’s a busy May, but I’m looking forward to working on what I need to improve,” Akani said.
Simbine’s early-season dominance suggests he’s on the right track. But for a sprinter who has often fallen just short of major podiums, fine-tuning every aspect of his race—especially his starts—could be the difference between another near-miss and a historic breakthrough.
