Ruswahl sends out a strong signal in Rabat

JOHANNESBURG: Sending out a strong signal that he will be a medal contender at the World Championships next month, Ruswahl Samaai won the long jump at the Rabat Diamond League with a best leap of 8.35m yesterday.

“Rabat is like a second home for me, I hold the meeting record and I wanted to improve that today,” Samaai told the meeting website.

“I am really jumping well at the moment and I’m hoping to keep in good shape and stay healthy.”

Samaai once again produced a good sequence of jumps opening with an 8.21m to take the lead.

American Jarrion Lawson leapfrogged past the South African with a second round attempt of 8.33m, with Samaai responding with an 8.31m.

Samaai then demonstrated his never-say-die attitude, reclaiming the lead with the winning jump of 8.35m in the third round.

Sitting out the fourth round he completed his sequence with an 8.24m and 8.13m.

Ranked second in the world this year behind compatriot Luvo Manyonga, Samaai boasts a season’s best of 8.49m.

Bringing South Africa’s evening to a close, Olympic 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya finished seventh in the 400m.

Taking a measured approach to the race, Semenya was soon left behind with Olympic champion Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas racing home in 48.80 seconds. Semenya crossed the line in seventh place, posting a season’s best of 51.53.

While Semenya’s time in the one-lap event may not giving the top sprinters sleepless nights, she holds the world lead in her specialist 800m event.

Semenya boasts the fastest two-lap time this season with a time of 1:56.61 she ran at the Doha Diamond League in May.

Racing against some of the world’s best half-lap sprinters national junior 200m record-holder Clarence Munyai held his own in his favourite event.

Munyai crossed the line in a time of 20.31 with Rio Olympic silver medallist Andre de Grasse finishing first in 20.03.

Thando Roto finished fifth at his first Diamond League meeting, posting a time of 10.26 in the 100m, while Wenda Nel could not repeat her podium finish from London stopping the clock in 55.31 in the 400m.