Akani Simbine Beats Christian Coleman, Fred Kerley In 100 Meters

By Cathal Dennehy for DyeStat

Photos by Matthew Quine/Diamond League AG

When you soar as high as Mondo Duplantis, it’s only natural that there’s sometimes a low waiting on the other side. But for the 24-year-old Swedish star, that comedown still puts him above the rest of the world.

At the Suzhou Diamond League in China on Saturday, Duplantis went close to improving the world record of 6.24m (20-5.50) that he’d set last weekend in Xiamen but in the end, after three bold attempts at 6.25m, he had to settle for a victory and another six-meter clearance.

“It was very important for me to come and jump well today, make sure I got the win over a tough group of guys,” he said. “I never complain when I jump over six meters and get a Diamond League win.”

Duplantis admitted “there's always a little bit of a crash” after setting a world record. “I knew I was going to have to push it a little bit harder. It wasn't going to come as natural as last week. I felt a little bit flat today, but still really good. I just feel that conditions have to be perfect for me to jump a world record and I wasn't quite feeling it off the runway tonight.”

He said he will now have “a few weeks of chilling out and being able to train” before his next competition in Ostrava. Belgium’s Ben Broeders tied with USA’s Sam Kendricks for second, both clearing 5.82m (19-1).

On the track, Sha’Carri Richardson was well below her best in the women’s 200 meters, finishing third in 23.11. She did not speak to the media after the race. Britain’s Daryll Neita came home a wide-margin winner in 22.62 (0.2m/s) ahead of USA’s Anavia Battle (22.99).

“My coach has been killing me in workouts so I really had no idea how I was going to do today,” Neita said. “I came here praying and hoping for the win and to come out and win it in a decent time in such a strong field, I feel really confident going forward.”

South Africa’s Akani Simbine came from behind to run down Christian Coleman in the men’s 100, winning in 10.01 (-0.1m/s) to Coleman’s 10.04, with 2022 world champion Fred Kerley third in 10.11.

“We always know that the last part of my race is pretty strong and it shows,” Simbine said.

Coleman said he “expected a better performance” but was “fine” with the result, given how early in the season it was. Kerley said he would “keep focused, keep competing and keep progressing” on the path to the US Olympic Trials.

Valarie Allman continued her fine early-season form with a win in the women’s discus, the Olympic champion launching a season’s best of 69.86m (229-2) in the fifth round. Next best was China’s Feng Bin who threw 67.11m (220-2), while Cuba’s Yaimé Pérez settled for third with 65.59m (215-2).

“I feel like things were so close to connecting to that big throw,” Allman said. “But I'm all into trying to make it happen and excited to get back with my coach and put in the work. It's giving me some good confidence at this point in the year.”

Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn made it two for two in this Diamond League season by winning the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.63 (0.3m/s) ahead of Devynne Charlton (12.64) and Danielle Williams (12.74).

“I can't believe the time, but it is what it is,” Camacho-Quinn said. “I know what I need to work on."

The race had plenty of drama after world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria was disqualified for a false start. She went on to run under protest, finishing virtually in line with Camacho-Quinn, but her result did not stand.  

Hamish Kerr of New Zealand took victory in the men’s high jump, the world indoor champion getting back to winning ways with a 2.31m (7-7) clearance. Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim took a step forward in second, clearing 2.29m (7-6), while USA’s Vernon Turner was third with 2.27m (7-5.25).

USA’s Daniel Roberts backed up his win last week in Xiamen with another victory in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking 13.12 (0.8m/s) to beat Japan’s Shunsuke Izumiya (13.23) and Olympic champion Hansle Parchment of Jamaica (13.26).

“It wasn't the cleanest race, but I'm happy to come out and get the win,” Robers said. “I just felt a little sluggish today. I don't know if the jet lag hit just now, but I just had to fight through it.”

Chase Jackson produced a 20.03m (65-8.75) throw to take the women’s shot put, with Canada’s Sarah Mitton second with 19.86m and China’s Song Jiayuan third with 19.83m (65-2).

“I'm just really trying to get consistent and confident in what I'm doing,” Jackson said. “So doing stuff like this at Diamond Leagues where I was fine-tuning my technique with nice and easy throws, but they were still feeling good and going far, I want to keep doing that to build the confidence into (U.S.) Trials and then the Olympics because I think the medals are up for grabs.”

Marquis Dendy edged a tight contest in the men’s long jump, his second-round effort of 8.05m/26-5 (-0.2m/s) giving him victory over Chinese duo Wang Jianan (8.04m/26-4.25) and Shi Yuhao (7.99m/26-2.75).

“Today was definitely a technical day,” Dendy said. “I got to come over here, get adjusted and get on my marks early. Staying consistent is my main goal and also staying healthy. April wins are definitely very rare so whenever you can get it, you want to appreciate it.”

Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega used his vicious finishing speed to take the men’s 5,000 meters in a meeting record of 12:55.68, with his countryman Biniam Mehary second in 12:56.37 and Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat third in a PB of 12:58.78. Barega revealed after that the 10,000 meters would be his chief focus at the Paris Olympics and he’d like to also do the 5,000 if the Ethiopian federation allows him.

Beatrice Chepkoech proved a class apart in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, the world record holder putting on an exhibition despite dealing with “a knee and stomach problem” to win in 9:07.36 ahead of Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai (9:15.46) and Germany’s Gesa Felicitas Krause (9:16.24).

The women’s 400 saw another home-straight demonstration by world champion Marileidy Paulino, the Dominican pulling clear late to win in 50.89 ahead of USA’s Talitha Diggs (51.77) and Sada Williams of Barbados (52.00).

“I felt good, but I don't like the time,” said Paulino, who said she needs to start faster in her upcoming races.

In the men’s 800, Algeria’s Slimane Moula fought off the charge from Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal to win in 1:44.55 to Kinyamal’s 1:44.88, with USA’s Clayton Murphy third in 1:45.18.

In the women’s javelin, world champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan got her season off to a strong start with a victory, throwing 62.97m/206-7, with Australia’s Mackenzie Little second with 62.12m/203-9 and Colombia’s Flor Denis Ruiz Hurtado third with 60.70m/199-1.

Marthe Koala of Burkina Faso claimed victory in the women’s long jump, her opening-round effort of 6.68m/21-11 handing her victory over USA’s Quanesha Burks (6.59m/21-7.50).

“It's my first time to win the Diamond League, I'm very happy,” said Koala, who said she has two goals for the year: to break seven meters and become the first woman from Burkina Faso to win an Olympic medal.  

In the women’s 5,000, a non-Diamond League event, Ethiopia’s Mekedes Alemeshete set a world lead and PB of 14:36.70 to take a narrow victory over compatriots Ayal Dagnachew (14:36.86) and Letesenbet Gidey (14:37.13).