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South Africa’s Simbine breaks Fasuba’s African record, Okagbare beaten by Thompson, Fraser-Pryce

SOUTH AFRICAN sprinter Akani Simbine officially became the fastest man ever in Africa on Tuesday evening after breaking the continent’s 100 metres record.

Simbine clocked a time of 9.84 seconds at the Continental Tour Gold event in Hungary to win the men’s 100m race and break the 9.85 seconds set by Nigeria’s Olusoji Fasuba in 2006.

The time is now also South African record, the meeting record and Simbine’s personal best.

Also at the same Istvan Gyulai Memorial in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, Nigeria’s medal hope in track and field at the Tokyo Olympics, Blessing Okagbare, returned a fast time in the women’s 100m but still finished behind three rivals.

Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah won the race in 10.71 seconds, which is the second fastest time of 2021 and the fastest time she has run in four years.

Okagbare also dipped under 11 seconds with her impressive 10.89s finish, but she was beaten by both Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.82s) and Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou (10.86s) to fourth place.

Also at the meet, Nigeria’s Divine Oduduru clocked 20.38s to finish third in the men’s 200m race 2.

Simbine won that race too in 20.25s, while Panama’s Alonso Edward came second in 20.29s.

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Naija Times