The men’s 100m at the upcoming Rabat Diamond League is no longer just a race. It’s turning into a reckoning. Akani Simbine, fresh off two emphatic Diamond League wins, has become the man to beat. His wind-aided 9.86 at the Atlanta City Games left the world buzzing, but it’s his cool, carefree approach, “no stress; just run and have fun,” that has made him even more dangerous. Yet, while Simbine has surged ahead as the world leader, the real challenge looms larger now, and the pressure he so skillfully dodged in Atlanta might just come crashing in Morocco.
Anderson Emerole, analyst and host of The Final Leg podcast, sees Rabat as a turning point for Simbine. Not just another race, but the first real crucible of his 2025 season. This isn’t about form or statistics anymore. It’s about standing tall in a clash of titans. For Emerole, this 100m isn’t merely Simbine’s next challenge. It’s a litmus test. “I’m excited to see how Akani continues to progress,” he said.
“But I do think this race will be his first major competition that he’s going to have, yes, he’s had to you know race Kishane Thompson,” Emerole added. And that was not all. He also named yet another athlete who could be a menace. Fred Kerley. “I think this is going to be a big big race for him because Fred Kerley, even though he’s been through a lot of different things in 2025, I think that he’s really in some great form,” chimed in Emerole.
The track expert also pointed out how Kerley develops a winning mentality the moment his season gets underway. As per Emerole. Kerley’s presence changes everything. While the American has faced an unpredictable season, his a recent run of three sub-10-second performances in California. One of them, clocking 9.98 in legal conditions, signals a resurgence. Kerley’s 9.8 (albeit wind-aided) shows he’s shaking off the dust of early setbacks.
He’s no stranger to this meet either, having taken the Rabat crown back in 2023 with a 9.94. His hunger to reclaim that throne and his habit of coming alive as the season ramps up make him more than just a threat. He’s the storm cloud chasing Simbine’s sunshine. While Akani Simbine has danced past contenders like Kishane Thompson and Christian Coleman, Emerole believes Rabat introduces a different beast. Kerley is not just racing, he’s rising.
But the American isn’t the only name in the shadows. Ferdinand Omanyala, Emmanuel Eseme, Brandon Hicklin, and Kyrie King are all capable of ruining a perfect season. Hicklin, in particular, with his 9.93 personal best, has already proven he can punch above his weight. And if any of these men find their rhythm on the day, Simbine’s unbeaten run could unravel in seconds.
Still, it’s Akani vs. Fred that commands the spotlight. The South African is the favorite. But it’s a fragile position when the field is this stacked. Emerole’s pick remains with Simbine, yet the subtext is clear: Kerley’s fire could burn through the expectations. And in a field where others are juggling 100m and 200m campaigns, Simbine and Kerley remain laser-focused on one thing. Supremacy at a distance.
Thus, it is quite obvious that Rabat won’t just be a race, it’ll be a war over inches and milliseconds. For Akani Simbine, the joyrides might be over. For Kerley, the comeback could be real. And for track fans? All signs point to fireworks. But hold on! There might just be another threat lurking in the shadows.
Letsile Tebogo eyes historic sprint double at Rabat Diamond League
After a sensational start to his 2025 campaign, Botswana’s star is setting his sights on a rare Diamond League sprint double in Rabat. Already an Olympic champion in the 200m, Tebogo is now primed to dominate both the 100m and 200m at the Meeting International Mohammed VI, the fourth stop of the Diamond League season. Having scorched the track in Doha with a commanding 200m win, Tebogo returns to Morocco to test his blistering form against a loaded sprint field.
Rabat marks Tebogo’s fourth Diamond League appearance this year, following his 100m outings in Xiamen and Shanghai/Keqiao, and his 200m triumph in Doha. The stakes are higher this time, as he lines up for both sprints on Sunday in a stadium packed with anticipation. The 100m will see him face Fred Kerley, Akani Simbine, and Ferdinand Omanyala.
And all capable of sub-10 fireworks, while the 200m pits him against American prodigy Erriyon Knighton. For Tebogo, it’s more than just about victory. Rather, now it’s about cementing his dominance over the full sprint spectrum. If he pulls it off, Rabat could become a defining moment in Tebogo’s Diamond League journey. Known for his poise and power, the 21-year-old sprinter is approaching this meet with unmistakable purpose.
A win in both events wouldn’t just underline his Olympic credentials, it would elevate him into rarefied territory, as one of the few sprinters to conquer the 100m and 200m on the same Diamond League night. All eyes now shift to Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. The place where history may just be written.
The post Fred Kerley, Letsile Tebogo & Akani Simbine’s Chances Evaluated as American Analyst Makes Key Observation Over Diamond League Clash appeared first on EssentiallySports.