Jelimo leads African 800m sweep in Beijing

Kenya's Pamela Jelimo has won her first Olympic title after leading compatriot and World Champion Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei to a Kenya 1-2 finish in the women's 800m at the Beijing Bird Nest stadium.

Kenya's Pamela Jelimo blazes to a gold medal in the 800m as compatriot Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei claims the silver medal and Morocco's Hasna Benhassi bronze. The 18-year old rookie, who only started running the 800m this season, gave a stunning performance to win the gold in a time of 1:54.87.

Jepkosgei managed to hang onto the silver medal in 1:56.07 with 2004 silver medallist Hasna Benhassi of Morocco settling for bronze in 1:56.73.

Three-time world champion and Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maria Mutola of Mozambique finished fifth in 1:57.68 in her fourth and last Olympics.

Frenchman splits Kenyans

Kenyans continue their domination of the men's 3,000m steeplechase as Brimin Kiprop Kipruto holds on for victory to maintain Kenya's 24-year-old iron grip on the event.

Kipruto, the reigning world champion and silver medalist in Athens four years ago, won in 8:10.34, with compatriot Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong settling for bronze in 8:11.01.

It took a superb performance from Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad to split the Kenyans and denied them of a sweep as he claimed the silver in 8:10.49.

Kenya have won gold in this race in every Olympics since 1984.

Race Results

Women's 800m final:

1 Pamela Jelimo (Ken) 1 min 54.87 secs Gold

2 Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (Ken) 1:56.07 Silver

3 Hasna Benhassi (Mor) 1:56.73 Bronze

4 Svetlana Klyuka (Rus) 1:56.94

5 Maria Mutola (Moz) 1:57.68

6 Kenia Sinclair (Jam) 1:58.24

7 Yuliya Krevsun (Ukr) 1:58.73

8 Tatiana Andrianova (Rus) 2:02.63

Men's 3000m steeplechase final:

1 Brimin Kiprop Kipruto (Ken) 8 mins 10.34 secs Gold

2 Mahiedine Mekhissi-B (Fra) 8:10.49 Silver

3 Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (Ken) 8:11.01 Bronze

4 Yakob Jarso (Eth) 8:13.47

5 Bouabdellah Tahri (Fra) 8:14.79

6 Youcef Abdi (Aus) 8:16.36

7 Ezekiel Kemboi (Ken) 8:16.38

8 Abubaker Ali Kamal (Qat) 8:16.59

9 Benjamin Kiplagat (Uga) 8:20.27

10 Mustafa Mohamed (Swe) 8:20.69

11 Tareq Mubarak Taher (Brn) 8:21.59

12 Ion Luchianov (Mda) 8:27.82

13 Anthony Famiglietti (US) 8:31.21

14 Ruben Ramolefi (Rsa) 8:34.58

15 Abdelkader Hachlaf (Mor) 9:02.06