Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia celebrates
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(Reuters) — Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele had an easy win in the 3,000 metres at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Monaco’s Stade Louis II but fell short in his attempt to break the world record on Wednesday.
Bekele, the Olympic and world 10,000 metres champion, was well outside Kenyan Daniel Komen’s world record of seven minutes 20.67 when he clocked 7:29.32.
Australian Jana Rawlinson won the 400 metres hurdles in an impressive 53.46 seconds, the third fastest time of the year, as she prepares for a tilt at the world championship title in Osaka next month.
“Wow, what a race. I’m really happy with it,” Rawlinson was quoted as saying on the IAAF Web site.
“I knew I was there time-wise. I’ve run five races this year and they have all been 54 (seconds). I just had to get a good race together.”
The front three in the men’s 800 metres ran the three fastest times of the year with South African Mbulaeni Mulaudzi winning in 1:43.74. Youssef Saad Kamel of Bahrein was second in 1:43.87 and Morocco’s Amine Laalou third in 1:43.94.
French sprinter Christine Arron qualified to take part in the 100 metres at the world championships. The 33-year-old Arron won her race in 11.06 seconds with American Carmelita Jeter second in 11.11.