Athletics
Shifaan Ryklief, Kwesé ESPN 7y

Wayde van Niekerk breaks 400m record in Lausanne

Just a week after breaking the 300m world record, Wayde van Niekerk did it again, this time smashing Michael Johnson's 400m Lausanne meeting record at the Diamond League event on Thursday.

The South African sprinter finished in 43.62 seconds to improve on Johnson's time by 0.04 seconds. Van Niekerk led the African contingent with Botswana's Baboloki Thebe and Isaac Makwala running in at second and third positions respectively.

"It is my first race in Europe this year and my first 400m," Van Niekerk said after the race. "I didn't come with a specific time in mind, but I am pleased with this result.

"I will have one more competition before London. There I want to put on a show and aim for a great time."

Ben Youssef Meite from the Ivory Coast finished second in the 100m with a time of 9,98 seconds, 0.02 seconds behind overall winner Justin Gatlin. Akani Simbine nipped the 10 second mark and finished in third with a time 9.99 seconds, while Heinrico Bruintjies ranked at sixth.

Meanwhile, Francine Niyonsaba finished tops in the women's 800m event with Kenya's Eunice Jepkoech Sum followed in third.

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