June 15 to 21, 2025.
The European summer track circuit has been ablaze, and African athletes are undeniably bringing the heat! From Geneva to Paris and Stockholm, they’ve delivered a series of jaw-dropping performances, showcasing the continent’s incredible depth, talent, and rising dominance. This past week alone saw blistering 100m times and record-breaking jumps. Ready to dive in? Here’s our comprehensive roundup of the top performers, ranked by their standout moments, consistency, and sheer wow-factor.
At the top of the pile is South Africa’s Benjamin Richardson, who stole the show at the Atletica Geneve in Switzerland. He clocked a stunning Season’s Best of 10.01s in the 100m, followed by a searing 19.79s (+2.3) in the 200m, one of the fastest all-conditions times this year. Returning for the 100m final, he ran a composed 10.06s to take the win and cement his status as the standout of the weekend.
Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati wasn’t far behind. He closed his European tour with a thunderous 9.96s (+2.5) at the Motonet GP in Kourtane, after earlier notching 10.18s in Stockholm and 10.10s in Finland. Clenching that sub-10 performance solidifies Azamati’s ability to run fast times on the global stage.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan reminded the world why she’s still one of the fiercest hurdlers in the game. At the Paris Diamond League, she blazed through the 100m hurdles in 12.24s, finishing in second place, while still proving she’s in top championship shape.
Rising South African talent Tsebo Matsoso also made headlines with a Personal Best of 10.03s in the 100m, showing that Richardson isn’t the only one pushing the sprint envelope in Mzansi. Meanwhile, Ghana’s Joseph Amoah put together a complete sprint package in Ontario, running 10.13s and 20.25s before closing his Canadian tour with a sharp 10.08s Season’s Best , with consistency and range on full display. The world championships automatic entry standard for the men 100 meters is 10.00s
Nigeria’s Usheoritse Itsekiri clocked 10.07s at the Bob Vigars Classic in Canada to take third in a stacked field, proving he’s peaking at the right time. His compatriot Favour Ashe ran a confident 10.08s Season’s Best, keeping his name in the mix among Africa’s elite sprinters. Senegal’s Mamadou Fall Sarr made waves too, clocking a Personal Best of 10.16s in Geneva, a breakthrough moment on a fast track.
Over in the hurdles, Côte d’Ivoire’s Serge Taha smashed the national record with a PB of 13.35s in the 110m hurdles at the Troyes-Aube Meeting. Not to be outdone, Senegal’s Louis-Francois Mendy delivered a sharp 13.27s Season’s Best, looking technically sound and poised for bigger things this season.
In the one-lap event, Botswana’s Lee Eppie showed he’s a force to be reckoned with, running a brilliant Personal Best of 45.00s in Geneva. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Zeney Van Der Walt was smooth and efficient in the in the women 400m hurdles, posting a strong 54.25s, a time that suggests she’s on course for something special this season.
On the women’s short sprint front, Ivorian Maboundou Kone turned heads with a Personal Best of 11.09s (1.9) in the 100m, one of the continent’s top times this year. Cameroon’s HervegeKole Etame was close behind, backing up her previous PB of 11.13s with 11.14s, the fastest marks by a Cameroonian since 2005.
In the field, Burkina Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango, a regular on the Diamond League podium, jumped 17.21m ( seasons best) in Paris. Not his absolute best performance, but elite enough to remain in the global top tier. Algeria’s Yessar Triki also impressed with a wind aided 17.02m in the same event, showing depth in Africa’s triple jump ranks.
South Africa’s Bradley Nkoana deserves a mention too, with 10.09s in the heats and 10.11s in the final behind Richardson in Geneva. His consistency signals he’s on course for something bigger. Egypt’s Bassant Hamida also popped up with a 22.76s in the 200m, a solid mark that indicates she’s sharpening for the season ahead.
Rounding the week out, Thelma David posted 11.2s, a respectable sprint effort
From start to finish, last week was a statement week for African track and field athletes. With national trials and world championships looming, these performances are not just season highlights, but early signs of great this to come.
