South African sprint star Akani Simbine has revealed he is not satisfied despite strolling to another 100m victory in a time of 9.94 at the Oslo Diamond League meeting.
Simbine crossed the finish line first, ahead of reigning Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs, who had to settle for fourth in 10.07 seconds, and he is now putting himself in good consideration to medal at the upcoming Paris Olympic games.
Abdul Sani Brown finished second on 10.02, before Cameroon’s Emannuel Eseme finished third on 10.10.
Although it marks his third consecutive first place finish this season, Simbine believes he would have done even better were it not for the rain, which he claims may have had an effect on his desired performance.
“It ended up in the rain which probably influenced the race but at the end of the day we all have to run 100m or not and get to the line first,” he told the media after the match.
The 30-year-old is adamant he still has a lot of work to do if he is to achieve his targets of dominating at the upcoming Olympic games in Paris.
“I did that today which I am happy with but I have a lot to work on and a lot to do. I am happy with my performance and I hope there will be more highlights coming up as we build towards the Olympic Games.”
Simbine has been a consistent top-five sprinter globally since the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he finished fourth, a position he also achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2019 World Championships. The only blemish on his record was a disqualification for a false start at the World Championships in Budapest last year.
The former African record has put his flag on the mountain to assert that he is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he stops being the near-man but actually deliver when it matters this year.
“I put my marker out to the world today that I am here. The goal was the win today and I did that. Getting the win always helps with confidence as we get closer to Paris.”
His recent victory in China at a Diamond League meet further solidifies his status as a top contender for the Paris Olympics, where the 100m final is set for August 4.
With world champion Noah Lyles, Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs, and Botswana star Letsile Tebogo still early in their 100m campaigns, and Jamaica’s Oblique Seville focusing on the 200m, Simbine’s consistent performances make him a key athlete to watch as the season progresses.
The announcement came amidst anticipation and pride during a press conference held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday.
Julius Nkuraija, the Course Director of the marathon, emphasized the thoughtful design of the route, stating
“The course was crafted to be both invigorating and awe-inspiring, guiding participants through Uganda’s most breathtaking landscapes.”
“We’re thrilled to offer athletes worldwide the chance to compete on a course endorsed by World Athletics,” he added.
With four diverse categories – 42km, 21km, 10km, and 5km – the marathon caters to a wide spectrum of participants, championing healthy lifestyles, community involvement, and athletic excellence.
“Receiving official recognition from World Athletics is a momentous occasion,” said Andrew Kilonzo, the Managing Director of Uganda Breweries before adding.
“Not only for the Tusker Lite Mt. Rwenzori Marathon and for Uganda as a whole. It underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence and our mission to foster healthy living and community engagement through sports.”
A recent study by Makerere University’s Tourism Research & Development Centre revealed the marathon’s substantial economic impact, injecting UGX 3.5 billion into Kasese’s economy during the 2023 edition.
Notably, 30 percent of participants visited Kasese for the first time, highlighting the event’s role in promoting tourism and regional development.
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