Posted: March 24, 2006

Athletics: Mutola Defeated In Commonwealth 800M

From David Monti

© 2006 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Maria Mutola was only able to win the bronze medal at Friday's fast 800m final at the 18th Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. She was the defending champion and remains the Games record holder (1:57.35).

Mutola, who won the 800m world indoor title in Moscow just two weeks ago, was defeated by Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei, who had to run near her own national record in order to sercure the gold medal. Jepkosgei, just 23 years-old, clocked 1:57.88 to beat second place Kenia Sinclair of Jamaica by 38/100ths of a second. Sinclair set a personal best.

Mutola ran 1:58.77 in third place. Five woman broke two minutes in the final.

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