PARIS (Sporting Alert) — World Record holder David Rudisha predicted a fast time and that he did to win the men’s 800m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris on Friday.
The Kenya superstar clocked a storming meeting record and world-leading time of 1:41.54 to lowered his own world-leading mark of 1:41.74 with his winning run that separated him by over four-seconds from the field.
There was no one near the world champion, as Spain’s Antonio Reina finished second in 1:45.62 and Alfred Yego of Kenya taking third in 1:45.68.
Another headlining performance came from Australian Sally Pearson, who sizzled to a world-leading 12.40 seconds to win the women’s 100m hurdles.
Pearson, who is building her good reputation of running under pressure, won ahead of Ginnie Crawford of USA, 12.59 and Great Britain’s Tiffany Porter (12.74).
Javier Culson of Puerto Rico flashed a world-leading 47.78 to win the men’s 400m hurdles after a strong start to take the lead and then held on at the end.
World champion David Greene of Great Britain produced a personal best of 47.84 to take second place with Felix Sanchez, running on the outside, taking third in 48.56. American Bershawn Jackson, who failed to make the USA team to the Olympics was fourth with 48.67.
Tyson Gay returned to winning ways after beating Justin Gatlin to take the men’s 100m – avenging the defeat at the American trials last month.
The 2007 sprint double champion ran 9.99 seconds for first place – beating Gatlin, who crossed at 10.03 and France European Championships gold medallist Christophe Lemaitre (10.08).
The women’s 400m open was won by Amantle Montsho from Botswana who clocked 49.77 to beat Jamaican trials champion Novlene Williams-Mills, 49.95 and USA’s Francena McCorory (50.27).
Dejen Gebremeskel Ethiopia won the men’s 5000m in a dominating time of 12:46.81, which was also a world-leading mark this season.
His fellow countryman Hagos Gebrhiwet produced a World Junior Record of 12:47.53 take second place with Isiah Kiplangat Koech of Kenya breaking the Ethiopians by finishing third in 12:48.64. Kenenisa Bekele, despite running a seasonal best of 12:55.79 was only ninth.
