The women's 800m provided another exciting but now predictable head to head battle between Mozambique's World and Olympic Maria Mutola, here representing Africa, and Slovenia's European champion Jolanda Ceplak, running in the white kit of Europe.
Ceplak attempted to steal a march on the rest of the field from the gun and did immediately take the lead but no one, let alone Mutola was going to allow her the luxury of more than a one or two advantage.
The bell sounded at 58.44 with Ceplak still in front, with Mutola at her shoulder. So these positions stayed until the final straight was entered, when this year's African and Commonwealth champion sped past her European rival to win in 1:58.80.
Ceplak had no answer to Mutola's kick and her legs began to buckle, letting Spain's Mayte Martinez sneak past her in a relentless sprint to the tape (2nd, 1:59.24). Ceplak (3rd 1:59.42) was almost also overhauled by Cuba's Zulia Calatayud (Americas) who finished fourth in 1:59.44.
The victory was Mutola's fourth consecutive World Cup 800m win.
