Competing in challenging conditions, five Southern African athletes delivered solid performances at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday night.

Despite having to throw in the rain, Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane du Plessis managed to hold on for second position in the women’s javelin throw competition.

Du Plessis landed the javelin at 58.89m, and though the South African star was well short of Serbian athlete Adriana Vilagos, who secured victory with a 63.02m throw, Du Plessis did enough to earn her third Diamond League podium finish of the season.

In the men’s 100m sprint, SA record holder Akani Simbine grabbed fourth place in 10.05 seconds.

Up front, Jamaican athlete Oblique Seville took a convincing win in 9.87.

Behind Seville, a few athletes crossed the line in a blanket finish in the battle for the remaining podium places, with Simbine narrowly edged out by Olympic champion Noah Lyles of the United States and Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake, who both clocked 10.02 in second and third.

800m races

After putting up a fight in the women’s 800m race, trying to stick with the pace of Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain, South Africa’s world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso faded in the closing stages.

Hodgkinson tore clear to win in 1:55.69, setting a meeting record, while Sekgodiso settled for sixth place in 1:58.76, just behind Oratile Nowe of Botswana who ended fifth in 1:58.63.

Aside from Nowe, Botswana was also represented by fellow middle-distance runner Tshepiso Masalela, who clocked 1:44.51 for sixth position in the men’s 800m contest.

The race was won by American athlete Josh Hoey in 1:42.82.

With one leg remaining in the league phase of the Diamond League series, to be held in Brussels on Friday night, Du Plessis, Simbine, Sekgodiso and Masalela have already qualified for the series final taking place in Zurich next week.

* Featured image of Jo-Ane du Plessis by Cecilia van Bers