Yomi Omogbeja (11/08/2005)

American quartet keeps Buckland out

Mauritius' Stéphane Buckland was consigned to fifth place tonight by the record American sweep of the first four places in the final of the 200 metres at the 10th IAAF World Championships in Helsinki.

Yet, the performance by the three-time world championships finalist equalled the best-ever finish for an athlete from the southern African country.

The 28-year-old, who was sixth in the half lap with 20.24 secs at the 28th Olympics Games in Athens last year, found the four Americans too hot and settled for fifth in 20.41 secs.

World 100m champion Justin Gatlin won the race 20.04 secs. Wallace Spearmon, selected for the US team after Olympic champion Shawn Crawford withdrew with a foot injury, was second in 20.20 secs.

John Capel, who had a wildcard entry to the championships as 200m defending champion, was third in a season's best 20.31 secs with Tyson Gay fourth in 20.34 secs.

Kiprop in Final

However, Uganda's Boniface Kiprop, the world junior 10,000m champion made it to the final of the men's 5,000m final which will take place on Sunday August 14.

Despite finishing out of the automatic four places, Kiprop qualified as one of the fastest losers after crossing the finish line seventh in 13:22:44.

Kenyan Isaac Songok Kiprono won the race in 13:22.36 while Kenenisa Bekele's young brother Tariku finished second with 13:20.66.

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