Max Burgin Claims First Diamond League Victory Over Olympic Champion in Morocco
Great Britain's Max Burgin showcased his talent by powering past a competitive field to win the 800m at the Diamond League meeting in Morocco. The 24-year-old finished with a time of 1:42.98, marking his first triumph in the prestigious series. Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the Olympic champion, secured second place with a time of 1:43.56. The victory took place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where Slimane Moula from Algeria claimed third place. Meanwhile, Ireland's Mark English finished 11th with a time of 1:45.00. Wanyonyi reflected on the race, stating, "I expected a race like this where someone would push me to my maximum. I have done my best and 1:43 is not a bad time for me. My focus this season will be on the 800m, not the 1500m." In other events, Matthew Hudson-Smith of Great Britain finished second in the 400m with a time of 44.25 seconds, just behind the USA's Jacory Patterson, who set a meeting record of 44.11 seconds. Hudson-Smith commented on his performance, saying, "It's good to be back... Now I need to build on that for the rest of the season." Molly Caudery from Great Britain placed seventh in the pole vault with a jump of 4.60m, trailing Nina Kennedy of Australia by 20cm. In the 200m, American Kenny Bednarek dominated the race, winning in 19.69 seconds, while Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana came in second. The evening concluded with Soufiane El Bakkali triumphing in the men's 3,000m steeplechase with a world-leading time of 7:57.25. El Bakkali celebrated his fifth consecutive victory at the Rabat meeting, while Frederik Ruppert set a European record, finishing second in 7:57.80. Notably, Geordie Beamish, who previously defeated El Bakkali at the world championships, placed a distant 13th.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-31