Athletics: Mutola runs fastest 800m of the year

Olympic and world champion Maria Mutola clocked the fastest women's 800m of the year yesterday with a time of 1m 55.55s at the Madrid grand prix.

Mutola, of Mozambique, surged clear of the field with 300m to go and finished more than 4s clear of Kenya's Faith Macharia. Her time bettered the 1m 56.57s she set in Lausanne this month.

In the men's 800m, world record holder Wilson Kipketer of Denmark was upstaged by Mbulaeni Mulaudzi of South Africa, who won in 1m 44.42s. Fellow South African Hezekiel Sepeng was just behind in second spot, with Kipketer trailing in third in 1m 45.03s.