Bednarek sprints to world-leading 200m time, Werro holds off Broeders-Bol at Diamond League Final

American sprinter Kenny Bednarek laid down a marker ahead of next week's World Athletics Ultimate Championships, winning the men's 200 metres with a world-leading time of 19.62 seconds at the Diamond League Final on Saturday, despite less than ideal conditions.

Commonwealth Games champion Sinesipho Dambile of South Africa finished second in Brussels with a time of 19.89, while Zimbabwe's Makanakaishie Charamba placed third in 19.99.

Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana was fourth.

"I'm definitely happy with this result," said Bednarek. "To get the ​win under these cold conditions (16 C) and a bit of sickness... I can't ask for more."

The 27-year-old, who was already in complete control coming off the bend, suggested his best might still be to come when the sport's biggest names gather in Budapest.

"Next week, if I execute well, I can drop a massive PB (personal best)," he said.

American Bednarek sprints to 200-metre victory at Diamond League Final

Audrey Werro of Switzerland continued her extraordinary campaign by winning the women's 800m, holding off a determined challenge from Femke Broeders-Bol.

Werro clocked one minute 54.75 seconds, while the Netherlands' Broeders-Bol crossed in 1:54.81, to set up what ​should be a sizzling showdown at the Ultimate Championships.

Werro, whose stunning form this season has turned ‌the women's world record that has stood for 43 years from a distant fantasy into a realistic target, found enough in the closing metres to keep double world 400m hurdles champion Broeders-Bol, who moved up to the two-lap race in February, at bay.

"I went out to the front and had fun, which was something I explicitly wanted to do ​during the last Diamond League of the year," said the 22-year-old