Yomi Omogbeja (19/08/2005)

Mozambique's former world champion Maria de Lurdes Mutola has lost her long winning streak in the women's 800m at the Zurich's IAAF/ TDK Weltklasse Golden League meeting.

The 32-year-old 'Maputo Express' saw her amazing streak ended after twelve consecutive wins by World champion Zulia Calatayud of Cuba, who held off Moroccan World silver medallist Hasna Benhassi in a tight race to win tonight in Zurich.

The Moroccan moved to the outside lane on the final straight and made a final dash for the line, but, was unable to catch the Cuban who took a 1:59.16 victory, while Benhassi clocked 1:59.18.

Russian Svetlana Cherkasova took third in 1:59.93 and Maria Mutola was fourth in 2:00.22.

Mutola had suffered hamstrings problems since Athens Olympics last year and was also placed fourth at the World Athletics Championships in Helsinki recently.

"This year is not so good for me. I knew before the race that it will be tough to continue my winning streak. But I'm not giving up and will be back next year," said Mutola.

Nigerian sprinter Olusoji Fasuba won the 200m for the Under-23 in 20.65 secs and afterwards said he preferred to stick with the shorter 100m dash.

"My event is the 100m, so I must be satisfied to run close to my season's best over 200m.

"I had a tough programme in Helsinki. In the meantime, I've had no training. So it was nice for me to win this race. In future, I'll stay with the shorter dash," he added.

Season's bests

Double world record-holder and World 10,000m champion Kenenisa Bekele ran solo for the final kilometre of the men's 3,000m, to win in a season's best 7:32.59.

Algerian Ali Saidi-Sief was second in a season's best 7:37.56 while Australian Craig Mottram ended with another season's best time of 7:38.03.

Kenya's World 5,000m champion Benjamin Limo finished fourth with 7:38.93, just managing to hold off countryman John Kibowen's who was fifth with a 2005 best 7:39.72 at the end.

Bekele said after the race: "It was hard to run in this weather.

"In Brussels, I'll attack the world record only if the weather forecast promises better weather. Yet, it was fun to run in Zurich. The crowd defied the weather and cheered me on. It was a great feeling.