Great Britain’s Max Burgin powered clear of a world-class field to win the 800m at the Diamond League meeting in Morocco.
The 24-year-old crossed the line in one minute and 42.98 seconds, with fast-finishing Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi second (1:43.56).
Victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat was Burgin’s first Diamond League triumph.
Algeria’s Slimane Moula was third, while Ireland’s Mark English came 11th in 1:45.00.
“I expected a race like this where someone would push me to my maximum,” Wanyonyi said.
“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.”
Elsewhere, GB’s Matthew Hudson-Smith finished second in the 400m in 44.25 seconds, behind the USA’s Jacory Patterson who ran a meeting record 44.11.
“It’s good to be back, I have had a lot of niggles but it is a great opener. Now I need to build on that for the rest of the season,” Hudson-Smith said.
GB’s Molly Caudery finished seventh in the pole vault with a jump of 4.60m – 20cm behind winner Nina Kennedy of Australia.
American Kenny Bednarek blew away the rest of the field as he cruised to victory in the 200m in 19.69, with Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana in second.
Home favourite Soufiane El Bakkali capped the evening in style with a world-leading time of 7:57.25 as he won the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
El Bakkali secured his fifth consecutive victory at the Rabat meeting, while Frederik Ruppert broke the European record to finish second in 7:57.80.
Geordie Beamish, the New Zealander who created a huge shock by beating El Bakkali to gold at last year’s world championships in Tokyo, finished a distant 13th.
