Share

Mulaudzi closes in on Rudisha

Paris - World 800m champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi finished a distant second at the Diamond League meeting in Paris on Friday night, but nonetheless closed the gap on Kenyan David Rudisha in the men's two-lap season race.

Muladuzi was third coming off the final bend, and while he got past Kenya's Richard Kiplagat as they hit the straight, 21-year-old Abubaker Kaki of Sudan was well clear as he coasted away to victory.

Kaki, the world indoor champion, clocked 1:43.50 to settle in third place in the 800m Diamond League season race, while the veteran South African finished in 1:44.11 and now has eight points - still four points behind Rudisha who did not compete in Paris.

The only other South African athlete in action, Rene Kalmer, will be pleased with her first outdoor performance over 5 000m this season, despite trailing well behind a world class field.

Kalmer was 15th in 15:44.08, falling less than 10 seconds short of her personal best, in a race won by Kenyan world champion Vivian Cheruiyot in a meeting record 14:27.41.

David Oliver of the US threatened Cuban Dayron Robles' world record in the 110m hurdles.

Oliver won easily in 12.89 seconds, only two hundredths of a second shy of the 12.87 world best set in Ostrava in 2008.

Sprint world record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica won a much-anticipated clash with countryman Asafa Powell in the men's 100m race.

Bolt took victory in 9.84 seconds, also a new meeting record, with Powell clocking 9.91 for second place.

The next Diamond League meeting will be held in Monaco next Thursday.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
64% - 331 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
36% - 185 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE