South African Luvo Manyonga Shatters Diamond League Record

Luvo Manyonga improved the Diamond League record by seven centimeters to spectacularly highlight the field events action at the 2017 IAAF Diamond League Shanghai on Saturday.

The South African was facing strong opposition from Olympic Champion Jeff Henderson (USA), and Fabrice Lapierre; Australia’s 2016 Diamond Trophy winner but that didn’t unnerve the 26-year-old as he dominated from the first round, leaping 8.48m to beat the meet record of 8.44m set in 2011 by Australian Micheal Watt.

He received a foul in the second round and made up for it in the third by improving to 8.49m.

Manyonya fouled again in the next two rounds but that didn’t deter him as he went for the final round producing his winning mark of 8.61m that broke the Diamond League record set six years ago.

“I didn’t get the distance I wanted today as I was looking for 8.80m, but I know it will come,” Manyonga said.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I am pleased to win again. My success has been down to hard work, training, dedication and commitment.”[/perfectpullquote]

Manyonga bettered the African record twice this year to 8.65m.

Featured photo: Getty Images