Manyonga leaps into Diamond League record books

Star South African long jumper Luvo Manyonga has leapt into the records books, setting a new mark for a Diamond League event in Shanghai on Saturday.Manyonga’s 8.61m was also a world leading distance for 2017.

Chinese duo Gao Xinglong (8.22m) and Huang Changzhou (8.20m) completed the podium, but trailled in Manyonga’s wake.Manyonga’s compatriots Rushwal Samaai (8.18m) finished fifth while Khotso Mokoena (7.95m) could do no better than eighth.

Luvo Manyonga is the third south African to win Diamond league event in this year where Akani Simbine(100m) and Caster Semenya (800m) won their respective event in Doha. Also along with Manyonga performance now four south Africans are chasing Gold medals IAAF World Championship as the 400m world record holder and defending world champion Wayde Van Nierk set his sight at 200m, 400m double at London .

Earlier, LJ van Zyl finished second in the 400m hurdles behind American Bershawn Jackson.