Athlete Manyonga shines on debut

PARIS: World champion Luvo Manyonga of South Africa soared to a world-leading distance of 8.32 metres in the men’s long jump at Wednesday’s indoor athletics meeting in Paris.

It was a first career indoor appearance for Manyonga, an Olympic silver medallist at Rio 2016, as he targets more silverware at next month’s World Indoor Championships in Birmingham. However, French sprinter Jimmy Vicaut — the joint European 100m record-holder — admitted he is likely to miss the March 1-4 event through injury after complaining of adductor pain following the 60m heats. “You can do miracles in six weeks, but not in three weeks... Now I have to think about Berlin,” said Vicaut, referring to the European Championships in August. French decathlon world champion Kevin Mayer set a new personal best in the 60m hurdles while also displaying good form in the shot put (15.96m) and long jump (7.48m).