Yomi Omogbeja (27/07/2006)

African athletes stole the show with dominant performances in front of approximately 12,000 spectators at the GE Money Grand Prix – part of the IAAF World Athletics Tour 2006 – in Helsinki.

Mozambique’s Maria Lurdes Mutola strided to victory in the women’s 800m in 1:58.72.

Afterwards, she said: "I love to be back here. I did not have such good memories from last year here, but I was looking forward to coming back and giving something to this great audience.

"During the race I had a small misunderstanding with the pacemaker and I almost had to push her off the track. But it ended well after all."

South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, the Olympic silver medallist took the men’s race in 1:43.97, the ninth quickest run in the world this year.

Ghana’s Ignisious Gaisah’s, the World Indoor champion, once again confirmed his rising profile in the Long Jump with a leap of 8.32m (+2.3 m/s) in the fourth round to deny South African Godfrey Khotso Mokoena, who had led the competition all night with a second round jump of 8.29m, the first position.

Sudan’s Yamile Aldama with 14.61m (+3.6m/s) was beaten to the second place by Jamaican reigning world champion Trecia Smith by 44 centimetres.

Nigeria’s Deji Aliu  won the men’s 100m with 10.28 and fast improving Josephine Onyia was second in the women’s 100 hurdles with 12.78 secs. 

Click here for RESULTS and World Athletics Tour standings