Impressive run for Cuba's 800m man

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, Spain (CMC):

Cuban Olympic medal prospect Yeimar Lopez is now the world's second fastest man over 800 metres this season after a superb win at the Reunion Ciudad de Jerez Grand Prix last week.

Lopez clocked a massive personal best time of one minute 43.07 seconds to win the European Athletic Association (EAA) Permit meet on Tuesday night.

The 25-year-old Caribbean two-lap ace runner dismissed South Africa's reigning Olympic and World Indoor silver medallist Mbulaeni Mulaudzi in his victory.

Mulaudzi was well beaten although he returned a decent personal season's best 1:43.61 for the runner-up spot.

Pre-race favourite Mulaudzi was ahead of Lopez for most of the race but the Cuban sped past him about 250 metres remaining and opened up a clear advantage which he maintained until the finish line.

Only Sudan's Abubaker Kaki Khamis (1:42.69) has gone faster than Lopez this year.

The women's 800 metres went to Morocco's Hasna Benhassi. The World and Olympic silver medallist won with authority in 1:59.29, ahead of Britain's runner-up Jemma Simpson (2:00.37).