SA’s Luxolo Adams Sprints to Victory Ahead of Olympic Champ in Paris Diamond League

Luxolo Adams claimed the biggest victory of his career when he took down a quality field, including Olympic champion Andre de Grasse of Canada, in the men’s 200m at the Paris Diamond League meeting on Saturday night. Running from lane eight, South Africa’s Adams set a new personal best of 19.82 seconds in the 200m. (Watch below.)

Adams lined up next to Olympic 200m champion Andre de Grasse of Canada but had no challengers as he crossed the line well ahead of the competition. The Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando clocked a national record of 20.03s for silver, with Frenchman Mouhamadou Fall bagging bronze in 20.26s. De Grasse had to be content with fourth place with a time of 20.38.

The 25-year-old Adams joined Clarence Munyai (19.69), Wayde van Niekerk (19.84), Anaso Jobodwana (19.87) and Akani Simbine (19.95) as the only South Africans to break 20 seconds for the half-lap event. And with less than a month to go to the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, the Paris Diamond League served as an important litmus test ahead of the showpiece from 15-24 July.

His winning time is also the fourth fastest in the world for 200m this year.

In the men’s 400m, South Africa’s Zakiti Nene dipped under the 45sec barrier when finishing third in 44.99. Olympic and world champion Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas posted a season’s best 44.21s in his second 400m race of the season. He finished ahead of second-placed Lidio Andres Feliz (44.92s) of the Dominican Republic and Nene.

Source: TeamSA

WATCH Luxolo Adams wins 200m in Paris

https://youtu.be/YJ-DDnHM10w?t=199