The cobra strikes earlier than expected in Zurich

JOHANNESBURG: Treble 800m world champion Caster Semenya raced to her second consecutive Diamond League Trophy in the Zurich final yesterday.

Semenya claimed an unprecedented 20th consecutive victory in a final to retain the Diamond Trophy.

Semenya has not lost a single 800m race since September 6, 2015, at the ISTAF Berlin meeting.

Proving to be the model of consistency, Semenya went through the first lap shadowing the the leaders in sixth place.

The cobra struck earlier than expected as she held on to cross the line in a time of one minute, 55.84 seconds.

She was followed by perennial silver-medallist Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, who finished well behind her in 1:56.71.

Rio 2016 bronze medallist Margaret Wambui rounded off the podium crossing the line in third with a new personal best of 1:56.87.

World long-jump champion Luvo Manyonga also went unbeaten over the last year claiming the Diamond League title.

Manyonga’s fourth-round jump of 8.49m was good enough to earn him the overall title.

The South African followed in the footsteps of former national record-holder Khotso Mokoena to claim the Diamond Trophy.

London 2017 world bronze medallist Ruswahl Samaai finished in second place with a best attempt 8.14m.

Mokoena, who was the first South African to claim an overall Diamond League title was last in yesterday’s final with a best leap of 7.13m

London silver medallist Jarrion Lawson of the United States had to be content with third place with his best leap of 8.07m.

The winner at the final of each Diamond Discipline is crowned IAAF Diamond League Champion and is awarded a Diamond Trophy with $50 000 in prize money.

South African 100m record-holder Akani Simbine crossed the line in sixth place in Zurich clocking 10.10 seconds.

Great Britain’s Chijindu Ujah crossed the line first in a season’s best time of 9.97sec with American world champion Justin Gatlin finishing fourth in 10.04s.

South African women’s 400m hurdles ace Wenda Nel finished sixth in a non-Diamond League race posting a time of 55.86 to finish off her season.

LJ van Zyl finished seventh in his 400m hurdles race, clocking 49.92.

Rounding off South Africa’s performance last night, 400m sprinter Pieter Conradie finished seventh in 46.45.

Botswana ace Isaac Makwala walked away with the overall title in the absence of double world champion Wayde van Niekerk crossing the line in a time of 43.95.

Mo Farah won the final track race of his career by the skin of his teeth, clinching a dramatic 5 000m win after three chasing Ethiopians collided with each other as they approached the finish line.

The quadruple Olympic champion led down the final straight, but world champion Muktar Edris came powering through and appeared set to sneak victory on the line.

However Edris fell to the ground after being clipped from behind by American Paul Chelimo, in turn tripping Yomif Kejelcha on the outside.

Chelimo stumbled over the line in second and Edris’s momentum took him over in third.

Briton Farah, beaten by Edris at the world championship 5 000m final two weeks ago, will run marathons from next year.