Mulaudzi flies in Finland
2004-07-25 20:31
Johannesburg - Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, the IAAF's top ranked 800m runner and the world indoor champion, finished second in a fast race at the Karelia Games in Lappeenranta, Finland, on Sunday with a time of 1 min 45.65 sec.
The race was one by Kenyan William Chirchir in an excellent 1 min 44.65 sec after a slow first lap of 53.74 sec.
The 23-year-old Vaal Triangle runner, who had been suffering from a foot injury and illness, had to postpone his opening race of the international season to last Friday's Golden League meeting in Paris Saint-Denis, where he had bad luck by falling and failing to complete the full distance.
It would have been the first of three races for him before Athens but in order to give him more competition, Mulaudzi accepted an invitation to run in Finland.
Mulaudzi's time was only 0.22 sec slower than his fastest time of 2004 and quite encouraging after the lapse in France.
Result: 800m 1 William Chirchir KEN 1:44.65, 2 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi RSA 1:45.65, 3 Sam Burley USA 1:46.96.
- SAPA