Abubaker Kaki News

Newly-crowned world 1500m champion Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain moved closer to repeating his father Billy Konchellah's feat of winning the world 800m crown when he qualified for the final here on Friday.

Kenenisa Bekele needed one of the biggest finishing kicks of his career to hold off defending champion Bernard Lagat and win the 5,000 meters at the world championships, giving him a second long-distance double in as many years.

A major deluge hit Olympic Stadium in Berlin an hour before Nick Symmonds was scheduled to run his semi-final heat Friday in the 800 meters at the IAAF World Championships.

Very few would remain seated every time Usain a Flyinga Bolt stepped on the starting line.

Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds took first place in his semifinal heat in the 800 Friday at the IAAF World Championships.

Canada's Gary Reed, centre, ran the fastest qualifying time in Thursday's 800-metre heats.

Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds has established himself as the top 800-meter runner in the United States.

For my generation the release of Nelson Mandela was their moment. There can be little question that this indeed was one of the most powerful images of the 20th century.

Asbel Kiprop could board the plane back home from Berlin with three medals: The 2008 Beijing Olympic 1,500 metres gold and World Championships in Athletics medals in the 800m and 1,500m races.

Victorian Jeff Riseley ran the second-fastest 1000m ever by an Australian at the Super Grand Prix in Stockholm overnight.

MONACO - Former Willamette University runner Nick Symmonds ran a personal best in the 800 meters Tuesday at the Herculis international track and field meet.

In a stunning 800m victory at the Herculis meeting in Monaco today, American Maggie Vessey ran close to a world leading time and all but clinched a spot on her national team for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics next month in Berlin.

David Gillick continued his strong July form with a third place finish behind current Olympic champion Lashawn Merritt and David Neville over 400 metres in Monaco this evening Gillick ran an Irish record 44.77 seconds over 400m in Madrid at the start of this month to become the first Irishman to break 45 seconds over the distance.

Canada's Priscilla Lopes-Schliep proved she's on pace for the upcoming world track and field championships with a silver medal and a fast time Tuesday at the Super Grand Prix of Monaco.

Athletics:David GillickA s preparations for next monthA s World Championships in Berlin are right on track after the Irish runner finished fifth in a world class menA s 400 metres line-up at tonightA s IAAF Herculis meeting in Monaco.

Both were on the slate in the event on Friday, but when Dibaba announced yesterday that she was pulling out of Friday night's race due to injury, the meet was robbed of one of the most eagerly anticipated face-offs of the year.

Note: Peter Gambaccini is away; today's Racing News is by Peter Vigneron. Tyson Gay Pulls Out of Prefontaine Classic Gay has withdrawn from the meet, nixing a possible showdown between the resurgent US star and Jamaican Asafa Powell.