Rudisha extends reign

World 800 metres record holder David Rudisha heads to the World Championships later this month with a first global track title at his mercy after a smooth victory at the London Diamond League meeting on Friday.

On a warm evening in the British capital, the 22-year-old Kenyan extended his near two-year unbeaten run over two laps by easily holding off Sudan's twice world indoor champion Abubaker Kaki in what had been billed a mouth-watering head to head.

The graceful Rudisha has not tasted defeat in the 800 since he failed to qualify for the 2009 World Championship final in Berlin, and will be the man to beat at the global championships in Daegu, South Korea which start on August 27.

He hit the front soon after the first lap and had too much power for Kaki, who tried to close in the home straight but was always held, Rudisha clocking one minute 42.91 seconds to Kaki's 1.43.13.

Just as impressive as Rudisha was Grenada teenager Kirani James, who could be a huge one-lap star of the future after setting a world leading 400M time this year of 44.61 in his first professional race.

The 18-year-old world junior champion burned around the Crystal Palace track, lowering the previous 2011 best of 44.65 set by compatriot Rondell Bartholomew.

Reuters

Results:Men: 100M: Yohan Blake (Jam, 9.95S) 1; Nesta Carter (Jam, 10.01) 2; Michael Rodgers (US, 10.04).

400M: Kirani James (Gre, 44.61S) 1; Jermaine Gonzales (Jam, 44.85) 2; Chris Brown (Bah, 45.04).

800M: David Lekuta Rudisha (Ken, 1:42.91) 1; Abubaker Kaki (Sud, 1:43.13) 2; Boaz Kiplagat Lalang (Ken, 1:44.13) 3.

3000M: Mo Farah (Bri, 7:40.15) 1; Gideon Gathimba (Ken, 7:44.30) 2; Collis Birmingham (Aus, 7:45.04).

110M hurdles: Dayron Robles (Cub, 13.04S) 1; Jason Richardson (US, 13.08) 2; David Oliver (US, 13.19) 3.

3000M steeplechase: Willy Komen (Ken, 8:21.40) 1; Brian Olinger (US, 8:23.36) 2; Mohamed-Khaled Belabbas (Fra, 8:24.63) 3.

Long jump: Mitchell Watt (Aus, 8.45M) 1; Chris Tomlinson (Bri, 8.30) 2; Greg Rutherford (Bri, 8.19) 3.

Women: 200M: Bianca Knight (US, 22.69S) 1; Sherone Simpson (Jam, 22.84) 2; Shalonda Solomon (US, 22.85) 3.

800M: Jenny Meadows (Bri, 1:58.60) 1; Kenia Sinclair (Jam, 1:59.16) 2; Lucia Klocova (Slo, 1:59.65) 3. 400M hurdles: Kaliese Spencer (Jam, 52.79S) 1; Melaine Walker (Jam, 53.90) 2; Perri Shakes-Drayton (Bri, 54.62) 3. 4x100M relay: US (42.92S) 1; Jamaica (43.17) 2; All Stars (43.21) 3. Pole vault: Jennifer Suhr (US, 4.79M) 1; Fabiana Murer (Bra, 4.71) 2; Svetlana Feofanova (Rus, 4.71) 3. Triple jump: Olha Saladuha (Ukr, 14.80M) 1; Olga Rypakova (Kaz, 14.49) 2; Dana Veldakova (Slo, 14.48) 3. Javelin: Christina Obergfoell (Ger, 66.74M) 1; Barbora Spotakova (Cze, 66.41) 2; Goldie Sayers (Bri, 63.41) 3.