Sudan's Abubaker Kaki 1:43.68 in the 800m, South Africa's Caster Semenya's first sub 2 minutes in the womens and Botswana's Amantle Montsho stunning win over the Americans highlighted Africans performances at the Samsung Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon yesterday.
World champion Caster Semenya making her debut on American soil, although running what seemed a tactically inept race that let the eventual winner get away unchallenged, came through in the home straight to earn second place behind a dominant Kenia Sinclair.
The 20-year-old South African managed to clock 1:58.88 - her first sub-two minute display of the season - behind Jamaica's IAAF VTB Bank Continental Cup silver medallist who roared to a world lead of 1:58.29. Janeth Jepkosgei who preceded Semenya as World champion, was third in 1:59.15.
Semenya unfazed that her tactics may have been wrong, said "(I'm) very happy with the race. The time is good. I'm very happy. Really good. Under two minutes, - that was the plan, under two minutes."
Her eyes on defending her World title, she added: "So yeah, I did what I wanted. Now I can train harder so I can run a fast time."
Reigning World 3000m Steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi making his season's debut again demonstrated the superiority he holds over fellow Kenyan Paul Koech with a solid victory.
Kemboi - as he has done so many times - powered away after winding the pace up at the bell to win in a time of 8:08.34 ahead of Koech who clocked 8:10.13 and Ethiopia's Gary Roba who posted a season's fastest of 8:11.34.
Other events
In the women's 100m, Amantle Montsho of Botswana with a 400m time of 50.59 easily beat off the challenges of US stars Debbie Dunn (51.37), Allyson Felix (51.41) and Sanya Richards-Ross (51.78).
There was also a World 800m lead from Abubaker Kaki Khamis who flew around his two laps in 1:43.68. His meet record left the USA's Khadevis Robinson and Boaz Lagat of Kenya well off the pace as they finished in 1:45.40 and 1:45.49.
Ethiopia's Gelete Burka (4:04.63) with a strong finish inflicted the first 1500m defeat of the summer on Bahrain's world leader Maryam Jamal (4:05.44) with Morgan Uceny of the USA third in 4:06.32.
Steve Mullings (Jamaica) won the men's 100m in a personal best and a meeting record of 9.80 ahead of American Michael Rodgers (9.85 PB) and Jamaican teammate Nesta Carter (9.92).
And Olympic Silver medallist Godfrey Mokoena from South Africa was second in the men's Long Jump with a windy 8.31 metres (+2.6 wind).
The next meeting of 14 Samsung Diamond League meets in 2011, the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, takes place on Thursday June 9 in Oslo.
Full results - Pre Classic 2011
100 Metres - Men Wind: +1.3 m/s
1 Mullings , Steve JAM 9.80
2 Rodgers , Mike USA 9.85
3 Carter , Nesta JAM 9.92
4 Patton , Darvis USA 9.94
5 Frater , Michael JAM 9.94
6 Gatlin , Justin USA 9.97
7 Thompson , Richard TRI 10.01
8 Williams , Ivory USA 10.02
200 Metres - Men Wind: +1.1 m/s
1 Dix , Walter USA 20.19
2 Saidy Ndure , Jaysuma NOR 20.26
3 Martina , Churandy NED 20.39
4 Sorrillo , Rondel TRI 20.51
5 Carter , Xavier USA 20.55
6 Callander , Emmanuel TRI 20.67
7 Kimmons , Trell USA 20.71
8 Dixon , Leroy USA 20.79
400 Metres - Men
1 Taylor , Angelo USA 45.16
2 Wariner , Jeremy USA 45.43
3 Borlée , Kévin BEL 45.51
4 Neville , David USA 45.70
5 Bingham , Michael GBR 45.74
6 Jackson , Bershawn USA 45.91
7 Scott , Joshua USA 46.16
8 Pistorius , Oscar RSA 46.33
800 Metres - Men
1 Kaki , Abubaker SUD 1:43.68
2 Robinson , Khadevis USA 1:45.40
3 Lalang , Boaz Kiplagat KEN 1:45.49
4 Kivuva , Jackson Mumbwa KEN 1:45.82
5 Wheating , Andrew USA 1:45.95
6 Renshaw , Lachlan AUS 1:46.11
7 Mulder , Tyler USA 1:46.39
8 Symmonds , Nick USA 1:46.78
One Mile - Men Race 1
1 Gregson , Ryan AUS 3:53.86
2 Torrence , David USA 3:54.01
3 Blankenship , Ben USA 3:54.10
4 Yego , Alfred Kirwa KEN 3:55.18
5 Miller , Kyle USA 3:55.38
6 Kemboi , Nicholas Kiptanui KEN 3:56.19
7 Jager , Evan USA 3:56.21
8 Aman , Mohammed ETH 3:57.14
9 Ali , Belal Mansoor BRN 4:05.22
Rankin , Jon CAY DNF
Stanford , Travis USA DNF
Gathimba , Gideon KEN DNS
One Mile - Men Race 2
1 Keitany , Haron KEN 3:49.09
2 Kiplagat , Silas KEN 3:49.39
3 Kiprop , Asbel KEN 3:49.55
4 Gebremedhin , Mekonnen ETH 3:49.70
5 Ndiku , Caleb Mwangangi KEN 3:49.77
6 Komen , Daniel Kipchirchir KEN 3:50.29
7 Alamirew , Yenew ETH 3:50.43
8 Moustaoui , Mohamed MAR 3:50.67
9 Brown , Russell USA 3:51.45
10 Willis , Nicholas NZL 3:51.95
11 Gathimba , Gideon KEN 3:53.76
12 Lomong , Lopez USA 3:53.85
Wieczorek , Mark USA DNF
Kithii , Josphat Mitunga KEN DNF
Two Miles - Men
1 Lagat , Bernard USA 8:13.62
2 Soi , Edwin Cheruiyot KEN 8:14.10
3 Koech , Isiah Kiplangat KEN 8:14.16
4 Bekele , Tariku ETH 8:15.40
5 Tegenkamp , Matthew USA 8:15.88
6 Kipchoge , Eliud KEN 8:16.74
7 Birmingham , Collis AUS 8:17.91
8 Bett , David Kiprotich KEN 8:18.72
9 Leer , Will USA 8:19.11
10 Bumbalough , Andrew USA 8:21.65
11 Verzbickas , Lukas LTU 8:29.46
McNamara , Jordan USA DNF
Haas , Stephen USA DNF
Milne , Taylor CAN DNF
10,000 Metres - Men
1 Farah , Mohammed GBR 26:46.57
2 Merga , Imane ETH 26:48.35
3 Kipkoech , Josphat Bett KEN 26:48.99
4 Tanui , Paul Kipngetich KEN 26:50.63
5 Tadese , Zersenay ERI 26:51.09
6 Sihine , Sileshi ETH 26:52.84
7 Kisorio , Mathew Kipkoech KEN 26:54.25
8 Kiptoo , Mark Kosgey KEN 26:54.64
9 Komon , Leonard Patrick KEN 26:55.29
10 Kipsang , Geoffrey KEN 27:06.35
11 Masai , Moses Ndiema KEN 27:10.05
12 Rotich , Lucas Kimeli KEN 27:12.24
13 Cheruiyot , John Kemboi KEN 27:22.09
14 Kuma , Abera ETH 27:22.54
15 Ebuya , Joseph KEN 27:28.20
16 Kigen , Mike Kipruto KEN 27:30.61
17 Medhin , Teklemariam ERI 27:37.21
18 Abshero , Ayele ETH 27:48.84
19 Masai , Dennis Chepkongin KEN 27:51.92
20 Salel , Daniel Lemashon KEN 28:04.63
Cragg , Alistair Ian IRL DNF
Longosiwa , Thomas Pkemei KEN DNF
Korir , Jacob KEN DNF
30,000 Metres - Men
1 Mosop , Moses Cheruiyot KEN 1:26:47.4
2 Kirui , Abel KEN 1:30:00.1
3 Macharinyang , Hosea Mwok KEN 1:32:25.6
4 Chirlee , Joseph KEN 1:34:12.7
5 Ennani , Adil MAR 1:40:26.6
Beyi , Worku ETH DNF
Kibet , Stephen Kipkosgei KEN DNF
Kimurer , Joel Kemboi KEN DNF
Nigusse , Ketema ETH DNF
3000 Metres Steeplechase - Men
1 Kemboi , Ezekiel KEN 8:08.34
2 Koech , Paul Kipsiele KEN 8:10.13
3 Gari , Roba ETH 8:11.34
4 Ramolefi , Ruben RSA 8:24.95
5 Huling , Daniel USA 8:25.95
6 Alcorn , Kyle USA 8:26.88
7 Nelson , William USA 8:28.67
8 Bruce , Ben USA 8:37.27
9 Slattery , Steve USA 8:50.95
10 Abdi , Youcef AUS 8:52.32
Scott , Derek USA DNF
Lagat , Haron KEN DNF
110 Metres Hurdles - Men Wind: +1.8 m/s
1 Oliver , David USA 12.94
2 Liu , Xiang CHN 13.00
3 Merritt , Aries USA 13.18
4 Turner , Andrew GBR 13.33
5 Eaton , Ashton USA 13.35
6 Wilson , Ryan USA 13.41
7 Shi , Dongpeng CHN 13.44
8 Ash , Ronnie USA 13.49
High Jump - Men
1 Spank , Raul GER 2.32
2 Silnov , Andrey RUS 2.32
3 Williams , Jesse USA 2.32
4 Jonas , Dusty USA 2.29
5 Barshim , Mutaz Essa QAT 2.29
6 Ukhov , Ivan RUS 2.29
7 Ioannou , Kyriakos CYP 2.26
8 Thomas , Donald BAH 2.21
Long Jump - Men
1 Rutherford , Greg GBR 8.32 +2.1
2 Mokoena , Godfrey Khotso RSA 8.31 +2.6
3 Bayer , Sebastian GER 8.03 +4.1
4 Smith , Tyrone BER 8.00 +2.0
5 Lapierre , Fabrice AUS 7.94 +3.0
6 Eaton , Ashton USA 7.93 +2.2
7 Hicks , Jeremy USA 7.78 +1.1
Saladino , Irving PAN NM
Shot Put - Men
1 Hoffa , Reese USA 21.65
2 Armstrong , Dylan CAN 21.60
3 Cantwell , Christian USA 21.59
4 Mikhnevich , Andrei BLR 21.17
5 Majewski , Tomasz POL 21.14
6 Whiting , Ryan USA 21.11
7 Taylor , Daniel USA 17.91
Discus Throw - Men
1 Harting , Robert GER 68.40
2 Alekna , Virgilijus LTU 67.19
3 Malachowski , Piotr POL 65.95
4 Kanter , Gerd EST 65.51
5 Young , Jason USA 63.20
6 Waltz , Ian USA 62.32
7 Kövágó , Zoltán HUN 61.67
8 Malone , Casey USA 60.37
100 Metres - Women Wind: +2.0 m/s
1 Jeter , Carmelita USA 10.70
2 Myers , Marshevet USA 10.86
3 Stewart , Kerron JAM 10.87
4 Fraser - Price , Shelly-Ann JAM 10.95
5 Simpson , Sherone JAM 11.00
6 Anderson , Alexandria USA 11.02
7 Okagbare , Blessing NGR 11.08
8 Williams , Lauryn USA 11.15
400 Metres - Women
1 Montsho , Amantle BOT 50.59
2 Dunn , Debbie USA 51.37
3 Felix , Allyson USA 51.41
4 Richards-Ross , Sanya USA 51.78
5 Hastings , Natasha USA 51.85
6 Williams , Shericka JAM 52.16
7 Firova , Tatyana RUS 52.27
8 Ustalova , Kseniya RUS 54.05
800 Metres - Women
1 Sinclair , Kenia JAM 1:58.29
2 Semenya , Caster RSA 1:58.88
3 Busienei , Janeth Jepkosgei KEN 1:59.15
4 Johnson , Alysia USA 1:59.40
5 Rusanova , Yuliya RUS 1:59.59
6 Gall , Geena USA 1:59.76
7 Wright , Phoebe USA 2:00.05
8 Pierce , Anna USA 2:00.19
9 Vessey , Maggie USA 2:00.39
10 Simpson , Jemma GBR 2:00.68
11 Jelimo , Pamela KEN 2:09.12
Moore , Erica USA DNF
1500 Metres - Women
1 Burka , Gelete ETH 4:04.63
2 Jamal , Maryam Yusuf BRN 4:05.44
3 Uceny , Morgan USA 4:06.32
4 Fernández , Nuria ESP 4:06.66
5 Langat , Nancy Jebet KEN 4:07.04
6 Hamblin , Nikki NZL 4:07.14
7 Clement Moser , Treniere USA 4:07.57
8 Bogale , Tizita ETH 4:08.25
9 Hilali , Siham MAR 4:08.33
10 Wurth-Thomas , Christin USA 4:08.55
11 Buckman , Zoe AUS 4:09.82
12 Soboleva , Elena RUS 4:10.34
13 Follett , Katie USA 4:10.52
14 Hall , Sara USA 4:15.58
Vaughn , Sara USA DNF
5000 Metres - Women
1 Cheruiyot , Vivian Jepkemoi KEN 14:33.96
2 Masai , Linet Chepkwemoi KEN 14:35.44
3 Cherono , Mercy KEN 14:37.01
4 Kipyego , Sally KEN 14:39.71
5 Korikwiang , Pauline KEN 14:47.71
6 Flanagan , Shalane USA 14:49.68
7 Ayalew , Wude ETH 14:59.71
8 Chemtai , Esther KEN 15:00.08
9 Goucher , Kara USA 15:11.47
10 Chepkurui , Lineth KEN 15:15.15
11 Wright , Megan CAN 15:15.33
12 Maloy , Elizabeth USA 15:40.20
13 Wellings , Eloise AUS 15:41.49
14 Muriuki , Margaret Wangari KEN 15:48.22
15 Begley , Amy USA 15:54.64
16 Areson , Jackie USA 16:09.51
Hinds , Korene JAM DNF
Zeferjahn , Tanya USA DNF
Dibaba , Tirunesh ETH DNS
400 Metres Hurdles - Women
1 Demus , Lashinda USA 53.31
2 Spencer , Kaliese JAM 53.45
3 Walker , Melaine JAM 53.56
4 Hejnová , Zuzana CZE 54.26
5 Shakes-Drayton , Perri GBR 55.36
6 Odumosu , Muizat Ajoke NGR 56.36
7 Tosta , Sheena USA 57.42
8 Lucas , Josanne TRI 57.76
Pole Vault - Women
1 Rogowska , Anna POL 4.68
2 Feofanova , Svetlana RUS 4.58
3 Murer , Fabiana BRA 4.48
4 Janson , Lacy USA 4.38
5 Hingst , Carolin GER 4.38
5 Hutson , Kylie USA 4.38
7 Holliday , Becky USA 4.28
8 Saxer , Mary USA 4.28
Triple Jump - Women
1 Saladuha , Olha UKR 14.98 +0.6
2 Ufodiama , Blessing USA 14.06 +1.0
3 Pyatykh , Anna RUS 13.98 +1.4
4 Alekhina , Nadezhda RUS 13.94 +0.2
5 Taranova-Potapova , Anastasiya RUS 13.78 +1.9
6 Walker-Welsch , Shakeema USA 13.72 +3.0
7 Smith , Toni USA 13.62 +1.5
8 Kayukova , Ekaterina RUS 13.44 +1.7
Shot Put - Women
1 Ostapchuk , Nadzeya BLR 20.59
2 Camarena-Williams , Jillian USA 19.76
3 Borel-Brown , Cleopatra TRI 18.85
4 Avdeeva , Anna RUS 18.78
5 Mikhnevich , Natallia BLR 18.48
6 Carter , Michelle USA 18.43
7 Stevens-Walker , Sarah USA 17.80
Javelin Throw - Women
1 Obergföll , Christina GER 65.48
2 Abakumova , Maria RUS 65.30
3 Špotáková , Barbora CZE 64.87
4 Ratej , Martina SLO 61.16
5 Viljoen , Sunette RSA 60.09
6 Patterson , Kara USA 58.39
7 Yurkovich , Rachel USA 56.39
8 Palameika , Madara LAT 54.98