Kenyan teenager Pamela Jelimo clocked the fastest women's 800 metres for nearly 11 years in only her fourth race over two laps at the Berlin Golden League meeting yesterday.

Jelimo, 18, who took up the event just three months ago, ran away from a formidable field in one minute 54.99 seconds. Only five women have run faster.

"The time is fantastic," Jelimo, who won by a staggering four seconds, told reporters. "I knew I was well prepared and ready to show strong results."

LaShawn Merritt upset Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner in the men's 400 metres after a dramatic stride-for-stride contest over the final 50 metres before a near-record crowd of 67,124 in Berlin's Olympic stadium.

Merritt edged ahead of his fellow-American to win in a year's best of 44.03 seconds.

World high jump champion Blanka Vlasic, among the biggest favourites for a share of the $1 million Golden League jackpot, won her event with a 2.03 metres leap, equalling her own world leading performance. It was the 25th consecutive victory for the 25-year-old Croatian, the longest current winning streak in the sport.

The next Golden League meeting is the Bislett Games in Oslo next Friday.

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