It was a bad day at the office for African record holder and Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala following his disappointing ninth finish (10.25) in the Shanghai Diamond League, won by in-form South African Akani Simbine.
Simbine, the world indoor 60m bronze medallist, maintained his outdoor win streak this season, following his 9.99 victory in Xiamen with a 9.98 (0.5m/s) 100m triumph in Shanghai.
This time his competition included Jamaica’s Olympic 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson as well as Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo and although Thompson had the slight advantage on the approach to the finish line, Simbine timed his dip to perfection to take it by 0.01. Tebogo was third in 10.03.
“Another win. I’m not happy with the race, but taking the win is good. I’m not happy with the start, it is just frustrating that I did not get it right today, but I was at least able to make up for that mistake and get the win,” said Simbine.
“I have World Relays and then Atlanta the following week, and then on to the Diamond League in Morocco. It is a busy May, but I’m looking forward to working on what I need to work on to get better,” said Simbine”
Kenyans faced challenges in competing in other races, with world 5,000m silver medalist Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli finishing eighth in a time of 12:56.81. The race was won by Aregawi Beirhu (12:50.45), followed by Girma Kuma (12:50.69) and Some Mezgebu (12:51.86), resulting in an all-Ethiopian podium sweep.
Other Kenyan competitors in the 5,000m included former world under-20 5,000m champion Benson Kiplagat, who finished seventh with a time of 13:09.90, and compatriot Cornelius Kemboi, who was eighth in 13:10.60.
Reigning world under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion Edmund Serem secured silver in the 3,000m, finishing ahead of compatriot Simon Kiprop Koech in a race won by Ethiopian Abrham Sime.
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Sime dominated the water and barriers race, winning in 8:07.92, with Serem close behind at 8:08.68 and Koech completing the podium in 8:09.05.
Double Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist Abraham Kibiwot finished seventh in 8:12.56.
