South Africa\u2019s Prudence Sekgodiso achieved her first ever victory in a Wanda Diamond League meeting, winning the 800m at the Meeting International Mohammed VI d\u2019Athl\u00e9tisme in Marrakesh in a world-leading 1:57.26 on Sunday (19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were also meeting records for Chase Jackson in the women\u2019s shot put and Lazaro Martinez in the men\u2019s triple jump, while home favourite Soufiane El Bakkali once again delivered in the steeplechase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sekgodiso had been undefeated so far this year on home turf, but this was the 22-year-old\u2019s first international race of the season and she duly raised her game. Olympic finalist Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia led through the first lap in 57.07, but Sekgodiso timed her finish to perfection to emerge victorious with her second PB of the year, taking 0.79 off the mark she set in Pretoria in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alemu was second in 1:57.70 and Noelie Yarigo was further back in third in 1:59.96.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the final race of the night, El Bakkali ensured the fans in the stadium went home happy as he triumphed in the steeplechase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Moroccan was contesting his first steeplechase of the season and was up against talented Ethiopian duo Getnet Wale and Samuel Firewu, as well as Kenya\u2019s Amos Serem. After an opening kilometre of 2:42.62 from the pacemaker, Wale took up the running and led through 2000m in 5:30.66.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He ended up as El Bakkali\u2019s toughest challenger in the closing stages, but the world and Olympic champion crossed the line first in 8:09.40 to maintain his winning streak. Wale was a close second in 8:09.78 with Serem a further second back in third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was an even closer finish in the women\u2019s 5000m. A breakaway pack of five women \u2013 comprising Kenya\u2019s Edinah Jebitok and Ethiopia\u2019s Medina Eisa, Fotyen Tesfay, Melknat Wudu and Likina Amebaw \u2013 emerged in the closing stages. That was reduced to three on the final lap as Tesfay, Eisa and Jebitok started to sprint for the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just when it looked as though Tesfay was going to hold on, her compatriot Eisa came charging through to take the win by 0.05 in 14:34.16. Tesfay was at least rewarded with a PB, as was Jebitok (14:35.64).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shortly before the Ethiopian 1-2 in the 5000m, there was a Kenyan 1-2 in the men\u2019s 800m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The consistent Emmanuel Wanyonyi, still just 19 years of age, held off a strong challenge from compatriot Wyclife Kinyamal to win in 1:43.84. Kinyamal followed in 1:43.98 while France\u2019s Yanis Meziane was third (1:44.13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
France\u2019s Azeddine Habz stole a march on a competitive 1500m field to run away with victory in 3:32.86. Contesting his first outdoor race of 2024, the European indoor bronze medallist positioned himself near the front of the pack from the outset while Ethiopia\u2019s Lamecha Girma initially stayed towards the back of the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Girma, along with British duo Elliot Giles and George Mills, moved up through the field with a lap to go, but Habz had already started his long run for home by then and could not be caught. He finished 0.61 ahead of Mills, who just caught Giles on the line. Girma was fourth in 3:33.54.<\/p>\n\n\n\n