SA 400m star Nene prepares for London Diamond League showdown

SOUTH Africa’s 400m star, Zakithi Nene, returns to the track at Saturday’s London Diamond League meeting ready to build on his status as the fastest one-lap runner in the world this year against tough opposition.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

Nene, whose time of 43.76 seconds is the world lead for 2025, will take comfort in the fact that none of his challengers who will line up in the starters’ blocks at the London Stadium have come close to that time this year, with season's best times hovering around the mid-44s.

Home favourite and Paris Olympics silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith could be among Nene’s strongest rivals.

He is in good form after his win at the recent Eugene Diamond League in the US, in a time of 44.10. That field included US 400m runner Jacory Patterson, who pipped Nene to the Rabat Diamond League title in a nail-biting finish.