(LR) Team Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, Team South Africa’s Wade Van Niekerk and Team USA’s Bryce Dedmon and Vernon Norwood compete in the men’s 400m during the Athletics London meet, part of the 2023 Diamond League Series, at the London Stadium on Sunday. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Wayde van Niekerk remains unbeaten in the 400m this season after finding his nerve to cross the finish line first at Athletics London’s Diamond League meet on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Van Niekerk fended off a fierce challenge from Americans Bryce Dedmon, Vernon Norwood and Briton Matthew Hudson Smith to achieve his third victory in the Diamond League this season in 44.36 seconds, while Dedmon came in second place with a time of 44.40 seconds and Norwood third with a time of 44.46 seconds.
The South African world record holder (43.03), who usually enjoys a comfortable margin of victory, showed his appetite for a street battle with his rivals on his heels as they crossed the finish line.
Meanwhile, on Court Louis II, South African 100m record holder Akane Sembene has, as a precaution, pulled out of Friday’s Diamond League race in Monaco due to a hamstring spasm. He is expected to return to training this week.
In his absence, Ferdinand Umaniyala, his rival to be the fastest man in Africa, made history by becoming the first Kenyan to win the 100m sprint in a Diamond League event, doing so in 9.92, with Botswana’s Under-20 world champion Letsel Tebogo making a sensational feat by finishing second in 9.93, a personal best for the season.
The World Athletics Championships are on the horizon, starting August 19 in Budapest.
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