NAIROBI, May 18: Namibia’s four-times Olympic silver medallist Frankie Fredericks ran a wind-assisted fastest 100 metres in the world this season to light up the African Athletics Confederation International Saturday.

Fredericks, who was runner-up in the 100 and 200 metres at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics before repeating the feat in Atlanta four years later, crossed the line in 9.85 seconds, which would have been an African record, but for a three metres per second wind.

Idrissa Sanon of Burkina Faso finished in second place in 10.15 seconds with Italian Andrea Colombo third in the same time.

Mozambique’s Olympic and world 800 metres champion Maria Mutola led from the bell to cruise to an easy victory in the two-lap race in 2:03.09.

Amina Ait Hamou of Morocco was second in 2:04.43 with Kenyan Janet Busienei third.

Daniel Komen, who won world 5,000 metres gold in Athens in 1997, and twice Olympic 5,000 metres silver medallist Paul Bitok dropped out of the 3,000 metre race with two laps to go as Ben Maiyo won in 7:43.22.

Eric Milazar of Mauritius won the men’s 400 metres in 45.39 seconds. Uganda’s Dorcas Inzikoru won the women’s 3,000 metres in 9:16.12 with Susan Chepkemei ourth in 9:20.09.

Staffan Strand from Sweden won the men’s high jump with 2.24 metres and Senegalese Kene Ndoye was the women’s triple jump winner with 14.23 metres.—Reuters