Akani Simbine finishes second, Bayanda Walaza suffers an injury blow

Akani Simbine showed glimpses of a return to form at the Diamond League meeting in Zurich, securing a fine second-place finish in the men’s 100m final. This marks the first time he has dipped under 10 seconds since taking a lengthy training break, clocking in at 9.98s. He finished just one-hundredth of a second behind veteran American Christian Coleman, who won with a time of 9.97s.

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While Simbine’s performance was a highlight, the event was bittersweet for South African fans as rising star Bayanda Walaza suffered an injury. Walaza, the 19-year-old Olympic silver medalist from the 4x100m relay, appeared to be leading the race at the 60-meter mark before he was forced to pull up clutching his hamstring. This injury is a major blow, as it comes just weeks before the World Championships in Tokyo.

In a dramatic conclusion to the race, as Walaza slowed, Simbine surged to a photo finish. The podium was completed by Ackeem Blake, who was third in 9.99s. The third South African in the final, Shaun Maswanganyi, finished seventh with a time of 10.17s.

“I was hoping for the win but Coleman just got it,” Simbine said after the race.

“It was great to be out here and great to finally find my legs again. I am happy with where we are at right now. Despite the fact that I did not get the diamond, I’m all good and looking forward to the champs.”

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South Africa also celebrated a podium finish in the women’s javelin, where Jo-Ane du Plessis claimed a brilliant third-place with a throw of 62.26m. The final was won by Greece’s Elina Tzengko, who took the title with a first-round effort of 64.57m, with Adriana Vilagos of Serbia claiming second with 62.96m.

In the women’s 800m, Prudence Sekgodiso delivered another sub-2-minute run, finishing sixth with a time of 1:58.57. The race was an incredible spectacle of speed, won by Switzerland’s Audrey Werro in a new national record of 1:55.91s. Georgia Hunter Bell of Great Britain was second (1:55.96s) and France’s Anaïs Bourgoin took third (1:56.97s).

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In other events, Zeney van der Walt finished eighth in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 56.90s, a tough race won by Dutch superstar Femke Bol in a meeting record of 52.18s. On the night’s program outside of the Diamond League finals, Rogail Joseph placed fifth in the women’s 400m hurdles with a season’s best time of 56.00s.

“We congratulate Akani and Jo-Ane for reaching the podium in their respective events,” said James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. “We are a few weeks to the World champs, and it’s a crucial and testing phase for every athlete.”