Muzala Samukonga shocks Kirani James with stunning 400m victory at Rome Diamond League

Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga ran a blazing 44.39 seconds to top the men’s 400m at the Rome Diamond League edging out a field featuring Kirani James of Grenada and Bryce Deadmon of the United States.

The Olympic bronze medalist, Samukonga, beat 2012 Olympic champion Kirani James, who finished a close second with a time of 44.30 seconds, marking his first ever Diamond League win.

The Olympics bronze medallist is keen to win in style against the likes of Ferdinand Omanyala and Letsile Tebogo at the Rome Diamond League on Friday night.

Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago followed closely securing third place with a time of 44.55 seconds.

Just a hair’s breadth behind was Bayapo Ndori from Botswana clocking in at 44.56 seconds narrowly missing the podium by the slimmest of margins.

American runner Vernon Norwood finished fifth recording a time of 44.71 seconds just ahead of Charles Dobson from Great Britain,who completed the race in 44.75 seconds.

Bryce Deadmon, another American hopeful placed seventh with a time of 44.77 seconds, in a tightly contested race where every millisecond counted.

The 19-year-old hopes that her 100m win at the World Under-20 Championships has sent a message to her haters.

Rounding out the top finishers were Busang Collen Kebinatshipi from Botswana, finishing eighth with a notable time of 45.14 seconds, and Italy’s Luca Sito, who closed the group at 45.25 seconds representing a diverse and competitive field.