Simbine second in 100m, Semenya sixth in 5,000m at African Champs

South African sprint king Akani Simbine had to settle for second place and a silver medal in the final of the men’s 100m at the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius on Thursday.

Simbine, who is preparing for the world championships and Commonwealth Games later in the year, was beaten by Africa’s fastest man, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala, though both men clocked 9.93 seconds.

In a photo finish, the times were rounded down to 9.927 and 9.930.

Simbine’s teammate, Henricho Bruintjies, was third in a time of 10.01 seconds.

In the women’s 100m final, veteran sprinter Carina Horn finished third in a time of 11.14 seconds.

In the discuss for men, Werner Visser won gold for South Africa with a best throw of 61.80m, while Victor Hogan was second with a best of 58.95m.

In wet conditions in Mauritius, hurdler Marione Fourie managed a third place in the women’s 100m hurdles, finishing in a time of 12.93. Charlize Eilerd was seventh.

There were no medals won in the 1,500m where Carina Viljoen and Danielle Verster finished sixth and ninth respectively.

There was also no joy in the 5,000m for Caster Semenya or Kyla Jacobs who finished sixth and seventh respectively in times of 16:03.24 and 16:16.06, more than a minute behind winner Beatrice Chebet of Kenya (15:00.82).

Hurdler Antonio Alkana at least picked up a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles final, finishing third in 13.59 seconds.