Revenge for Simbine against Kerley in Rabat?

AKANI Simbine has enjoyed unprecedented success since, but missing out on a medal in last year’s 100m Olympic final must still hurt.

- ASHFAK MOHAMED

Now he has a chance to avenge that result when he squares off with American star Fred Kerley in tomorrow’s Diamond League meeting in Rabat — where there will be a 10-strong South African contingent competing.

Simbine produced his best ever effort in the Paris Olympic final, clocking a new South African record of 9.82 seconds.

But he was pipped to the bronze medal by the tall figure of Kerley, who ran 9.81 to clinch third position in the fastest ever Olympic title decider.

Another American, Noah Lyles, grabbed the gold medal in an astonishing finish ahead of Jamaican Kishane Thompson, with both men being credited with 9.79 times — Lyles winning by five one-thousandths of a second.

Kerley’s personal best is 9.76, and he will hope to shake off a difficult 2025 for him so far—which has included a few brushes with police — and begin his build-up to September’s world championships in Tokyo with a sub-10second performance in Rabat, Morocco.