WATCH: Manyonga leaps to London Diamond League win, Samaai sets 2018 best

Published Jul 22, 2018

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CAPE TOWN – Ruswahl Samaai produced his best jump of the year, but good friend Luvo Manyonga took the honours at the London Diamond League on Sunday.

The two South Africans put on a thrilling exhibition in the sand pit, with just one of Manyonga’s efforts being shorter than 8.43m.

After opening with 8.16m, world champion Manyonga came up with 8.51m and 8.53m to take charge of the competition at the London Olympic Stadium.

Samaai actually took the lead in the first round with 8.35m, and it looked like the world championship bronze medallist was going to get the better of Manyonga.

But the 2017 world champion – who won the gold medal in the same stadium last year – roared back, and crowned his successful afternoon with a massive leap of 8.58m in the fourth round, which was a new meeting record and Manyonga’s best jump this year.

Samaai got an 8.42m in his fourth jump, and that was enough to claim second place, with Olympic champion Jeff Henderson of the US ending fifth with 8.20m.

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Rikenette Steenkamp made contact with the first hurdle in her heat, which saw her clocking 13.05 and missing out on the final.

American star Kendra Harrison won the heat in 12.50, and then set a world lead in winning the final in a blistering 12.36.

In the men’s 110m hurdles, Antonio Alkana finished fifth in 13.40, with Jamaican Ronald Levy triumphing in 13.13.

The last South African in action on the second day of the event was 200m sprinter Ncincilili Titi, who came seventh in 20.44.

@ashfakmohamed

 

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