Akani Simbine Misses Out on Podium as Rain Soaks Lausanne Diamond League

It was a wet and wild evening in Switzerland as the Lausanne Diamond League served up slippery drama just one week before the series finale in Zurich. For South Africa’s track and field stars, the rain proved more of a hurdle than the competition itself.

Simbine Battles but Slips to Fourth

South Africa’s sprint king Akani Simbine lined up in the men’s 100m hoping to test himself against the best in the world before Zurich. But the elements had their say. Jamaican sensation Oblique Seville powered through the downpour to clock a blistering 9.87, once again toppling Olympic champion Noah Lyles.

Lyles was awarded second in a tight photo finish at 10.02, just edging Ackeem Blake. Simbine followed in fourth with 10.05, a respectable time given the slick track but not enough for the podium. Fans back home were quick to defend him, noting on social media that “conditions looked like a swimming pool” and that the Diamond League final is where the real showdown awaits.

Prudence Sekgodiso Fades Late in Fierce 800m

In the women’s 800m, Prudence Sekgodiso faced off against Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson. After the pacemaker dropped, Hodgkinson surged and never looked back, storming to victory in 1:55.69 to smash a record standing since 2002.

Sekgodiso held strong for much of the race but lost steam in the final stretch, crossing sixth in 1:58.76. Remarkably, all nine women in the race dipped under two minutes despite the heavy conditions, underlining just how elite the field was.

Van Dyk Shines with Javelin Silver

The standout South African performance came from Jo-Ane van Dyk, who proved that grit beats rain. The Olympic silver medallist launched her javelin to 58.89m on her second attempt, securing second place behind Serbia’s Adriana Vilago, who claimed victory with 62.83m.

What This Means for Zurich

With the Diamond League season heading into its grand finale, the Lausanne meet was a reminder of both the unpredictability of sport and the resilience of athletes. Simbine will head to Zurich knowing he’s still within touching distance of the world’s best. Sekgodiso will see her sixth-place finish as valuable experience against the top tier, while Van Dyk’s silver shows she is still very much in medal-winning form.

For South African athletics fans, Zurich will be the true stage to judge their stars and this time, everyone will be hoping the skies stay clear.

Source:The South African

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