RIETI (Italy), Sept 9: Wilson Kipketer ran the fastest 800 metres of the year Sunday at the Rieti Grand Prix II meeting.
The Dane’s one minute 42.32 seconds improved his own previous mark of 1:42.74 set at the Brussels Golden League meeting nine days ago. Kipketer holds the world record at 1:41.11.
In the 1,500 metres, Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco failed in a bid to lower his own world record of 3:26.00, winning in 3:26.96 with runner-up Vyacheslav Shabunin of Russia nearly eight seconds behind.
Leading results:
MEN’S:
100 metres: 1. Uchenna Emedolu (Nigeria) 10.10 seconds; 2. Bernard Williams (US) 10.16; 3. Mark Lewis-Francis (Britain) 10.18.
200 metres: 1. Uchenna Emedolu (Nigeria) 20.31 seconds; 2. Coby Miller (US) 20.33; 3. Marlon Devonish (Britain) 20.38.
800 metres: 1. Wilson Kipketer (Denmark) 1 minute 42.32 seconds; 2. Wilfred Bungei (Kenya) 1:42.34; 3. William Yiampoy (Kenya) 1:42.91.