It was a busy night for South African athletes at the IAAF Diamond League meeting – and they did not disappoint!
Wayde van Niekerk, Caster Semenya, Akani Simbine, and Dominique Scott lined up in Monaco on Friday night to show the world what South Africans are made of.
In the much-anticipated men’s 400m, Van Niekerk sprinted to victory against a strong field, including Botswana locals Isaac Makwala who came a close second in 43.84, and Baboloki Thebe third in 44.26. Starting in lane five, Van Niekerk ran strong, needing to dig deep in the last few metres but finished victorious breaking the meeting record in 43.75. Van Niekerk is the current world-record holder in the 400m (43.03), which he achieved at The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. He recently broke the 21-year-old meeting record (43.66) in Lausanne, set by Michael Johnson in 1996.
Victory for @WaydeDreamer in 43.75 propelling him up the standings and into the Final with a MEETING RECORD!!#MonacoDL #RoadToTheFinal pic.twitter.com/hr9bqjuOuS
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 21, 2017
“I can definitely imagine running 42 (seconds). Last year, at the age of 24, I managed to run a 43.03, so it’s definitely something I’m aiming for. I want to improve my time. It’s bound to happen – at the right race, in the perfect moment, I’m sure it will happen,” said Van Niekerk, when a reporter asked him if he has an obsession with breaking the 43-second barrier.
In the women’s 800m, Caster Semenya lead the tight field until the last 100m when she took a stronger lead finishing first in a time of 1:55:27. Francine Niyonsaba and Ajee Wilson were hot on her heels.
Semenya now holds the world leading time for 2017 of 1:55:27 after Friday nights performance. Jarmila Kratochvílová is the current world-record holder in the women’s 800m (1:53.28).
Another Meeting record tumbles, as Caster Semenya puts in an phenomenal 800m performance to win in 1:55.27!! WL and MR!!#MonacoDL pic.twitter.com/jzTVGVkje2 — IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 21, 2017
Cape Town native Dominique Scott (PB: 8:46.65) lined up for the women’s 3,000m in the fifth lane, against a fierce group of runners, including Kenya’s Hellen Obiri (PB: 8:20.68). Obiri completely smashed the field, leading by around 50m on the final straight, winning the 3,000m in 8:23:14, followed by Beatrice Chepkoe (8:28.66) and Laura Muir (8:30.64) who came second and third respectively. Scott ran a strong race finishing 11th in a time of 8:41:33.
Convincing victory for Hellen Obiri in yet another world leading time of 8:23.15 in the women’s 3,000m! #MonacoDL#RoadToTheFinal pic.twitter.com/Tesjorn3qL
— IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 21, 2017
@usainbolt WINS THE 100M, FOLLOWED BY @ALLORN0THIN AND @AkaniSimbine!!!#HerculisEBS #MonacoDL #DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/IcbvG0aGtD
— Herculis (@MeetingHerculis) July 21, 2017
Cool, confident running sees @usainbolt take victory in a season’s best 9.95!!#MonacoDL#RoadToTheFinal pic.twitter.com/Sohe6e7Fc6 — IAAF Diamond League (@Diamond_League) July 21, 2017
Catch Caster, Wayde and Akani racing at the IAAF World Championships in London from 4-13 August 2017.