JOHANNESBURG, April 29– South African sprint star Akani Simbine clocked 9.98 seconds in the heats of the men’s 100m on Tuesday at the inaugural Simbine Classic, the first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting to be staged in South Africa.
Simbine, however, was hampered by cramp in the final and crossed the line in last place. Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme won the final in 10.03 seconds, followed by Pjai Austin of the United States in 10.06 and Canada’s Olympic champion Andre De Grasse in 10.08.
Launched by Simbine, the one-day event attracted around 120 athletes and featured sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws and relay events.
It also served as a final tune-up ahead of next week’s World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana. “For me personally, and the rest of the South African athletes taking part, it is also a chance to compete at the highest level in front of our home crowd, which is a great opportunity for us,” Simbine said.
Cambrea Sturgis led an American sweep in the women’s 100m in 10.92 seconds, followed by Maia McCoy and Chante Clinkscale in 11.16 and 11.20, respectively.
Zambia’s Olympic bronze medalist Muzala Samukonga claimed the men’s 300m title in 31.38 seconds, holding off South Africa’s Lythe Pillay and Gardeo Isaacs, who finished second and third in 31.58 and 31.77.
Kenya’s Mercy Oketch set a national record of 35.77 seconds to win the women’s 300m, narrowly ahead of American Kenondra Davis, who clocked 35.81.
In the field events, Nigeria’s Chukwuebuka Enekwechi won the men’s shot put with 21.17 meters, while Croatia’s Sara Kolak, the 2016 Olympic champion, topped the women’s javelin with a throw of 59.23 meters. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
