Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, the world’s fastest 800m runner of 2007, ended the year’s international season on a satisfactory note when he finished second in a tactical race at the fifth IAAF/VTB Bank Athletics World Final in Stuttgart on Saturday. Former Kenyan Youssef Saad Kamel of Bahrain won in a time of 1:45,61.
The South African, who clocked 1:45,67, led for almost 90% of the race and was only passed by the winner over the final 10m.
The first 400m was a slow 53,17 seconds. Mulaudzi won the event at the 2006 final.
LJ van Zyl was a disappointing last in the 400m hurdles in 49,62 seconds. The fact that he had been out of action too long since the World Championships counted against him. Poland’s Marek Plawgo recorded a narrow victory against the leading runners in the world in 48,35 seconds.
World champion Kerron Clement of the United States was credited with the same time, and James Carter, also of the US, was a close third in 48,36 seconds.
South Africa’s third representative, Godfrey Khotso Mokoena (long jump), will be in action on the second and final day of the meeting on Sunday. — Sapa