Inspired by the success of his compatriot Wayde van Niekerk, South African hurdler Cornel Fredericks is looking to put behind him a frustrating 2015 season and make the podium at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Cornel Fredericks enjoyed a memorable 2014 season after securing men’s 400m hurdles titles at the Commonwealth Games, African Championships and, most recently, the IAAF Continental Cup just two weeks ago.

With a powerful closing charge over the final 25 metres, South Africa's Cornel Fredericks turned in an impressive victory in the 400m hurdles to give Africa its first victory of the day in the first track event of the competition.

Several races at the first of this year’s IAAF Diamond League finals had thrilling finishes but the one that had the packed Letzigrund Stadium gasping was the women’s 1500m, when the USA’s Jenny Simpson held off a desperate charge from Shannon Rowbury to win in 3:59.92, just 0.01 ahead of her compatriot on Thursday (28).

African 400m record-holder Isaac Makwala went to the recent Commonwealth Games as one of Botswana’s best hopes for a medal, but missed out on making the final by 0.02. On Tuesday (12), the third day of action at the African Championships in Marrakech, however, he made no such mistakes.

It was a rare defeat for one of the sport’s highest profile stars, David Rudisha, that was the main talking point on another huge night at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday (31).