South African athletes were superb on Thursday night, delivering two victories and a national record at the fifth leg of the World Athletics Diamond League series in Oslo, Norway.

Distance runner Adrian Wildschutt settled for 13th place in one of the fastest men's 5 000m races ever run, but he broke new ground in the process. Wildschutt completed the race in 12:56.67, taking nearly six seconds off his own national outdoor 5 000m mark of 13:02.46 which was set last season.

It was also the fastest 5 000m by a South African on any surface, with Wildschutt going under the national short track record of 12:56.76 he set earlier this year.

Up front, Ethiopian athlete Hagos Gebrhiwet ran the second fastest time in history, crossing the line in 12:36.73, narrowly outside the world record of 12:35.36 held by Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei.

In the men's 100m race, Akani Simbine outclassed the lineup in wet conditions to win his second Diamond League race of the season in 9.94 seconds. Hakim Sani Brown of Japan finished second in 9.99.

"I am happy with my performance and I hope there will be more highlights coming up as we build towards the Olympic Games," Simbine said afterwards. "I put my marker out to the world today that I am here. The goal was the win and I did that, which helps with confidence as we get closer to Paris."

Also picking up her second top-flight victory of the year, Prudence Sekgodiso took the women's 800m race in 1:58.66, with Natoya Goule-Toppin of Jamaica settling for the runner-up spot in 1:59.10.

"I am happy with the way I ran. I did not chase the pace, to be honest, but this means a lot to me and I am ready for more," Sekgodiso said. "It is an amazing atmosphere here and I wish to come back again."

Closing out the South African campaign in Oslo, Lythe Pillay finished sixth in the men's 400m race in 45.34, and Ryan Mphahlele was 12th in a rather fast 1 500m contest in 3:33.85.

"It's another happy ending at the Diamond League for South Africa and for our athletes, in particular. The consistency of podium places is a good morale booster to the athletes as we inch closer to the Olympics.  

"It is also a welcome achievement when our athletes are getting invitations to perform at this world level where the money really matters. It also helps them to gauge how far they still have to work on and how much has been achieved. 

"As we march on towards the world's biggest sporting extravaganza in August, we trust that other athletes are inspired by these performances to remain focussed and to aspire to continuously improve in their respective events so that they are at better level when the world spectacle begins," said a happy James Moloi, the President of Athletics South Africa. 

* All ASA records are subject to standard ratification processes

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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics  and the Confederation of African Athletics.  The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg. 

ENDS