Image | @akani_simbine/ Instagram

South African sprint sensation Akani Simbine has ignited his Diamond League campaign with a commanding victory in the men’s 100-metre dash in Xiamen.

The in-form speedster left a star-studded field in his wake, crossing the finish line in a blistering 9.99 seconds.

Simbine’s triumph saw him outpace formidable rivals, including Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana and former world champion Christian Coleman of the USA.

The South African, who recently clinched a world indoor bronze medal, showcased remarkable composure as he surged ahead of the pack.

Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala secured second place with a time of 10.13 seconds, while Great Britain’s Jeremiah Azu finished third in 10.17 seconds.

Tebogo, despite his renowned speed, had to settle for seventh position in the ten-man race, clocking 10.20 seconds.

This victory further solidifies Simbine’s impressive early-season form.

Just two weeks prior, the 31-year-old set a world-leading time of 9.90 seconds at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in Gaborone.

His recent bronze medal in the 60m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing also underscores his consistent performance on the global stage.

For Simbine, this dominant win could be a sign of things to come as he aims to finally break onto the podium in major outdoor championships, having narrowly missed out on medals in multiple past World Championships and Olympic finals.

This stellar performance also bodes well for South Africa’s 4x100m relay team, who are Olympic silver medallists.