BERLIN, June 1, 2008 (AFP) - Kenya's Augustine Choge ran the fastest 1500 metres time in the world so far this year to claim victory at the Golden League meeting here on Sunday.

With Kenyan athletes taking the first three places, Choge, the Commonwealth Games champion, ran three minutes 31.57 seconds with twice indoor world silver medallist Daniel Komen in second and compatriot Shedrack Korir in third.

In the men's 400 metres hurdles, 2005 world champion Bershawn Jackson of the United States won in a time of 48.73 seconds, while 2000 Olympic champion Angelo Taylor finished back in sixth place with a season's best 50.06.

'After the long flight I did not begin too hard, I controlled the race and the main goal was to win,' said Jackson.

'I had a bad year in 2007 and didn't make the world champs finals, I am hoping this year will be better.'

Former 800 metres Olympic champion Nils Schumann has virtually given up hope of competing at August's Beijing Olympic Games after failing to make the qualifying standard here at Sunday's Golden League meeting.

The Sydney 2000 champion ran 1 minute 47.78 seconds to finish ninth in his 800 metres heat - two seconds short of the 800 metres qualifying mark for Beijing.

'I wanted to run here the qualifying time of 1:45.50, now I don't really believe I can reach Beijing,' said Schumann, 30, who has battled back to fitness after three achilles tendon operations.

Earlier, world silver medalist Robert Harting had to be content with third place at the Golden League meeting here on Sunday as Iran's Ehsan Hadadi threw a new Asian record to win the men's discus.

Germany's Harting lost out with a throw of 67.10 to Hadadi who managed 69.12 metres and the 23-year-old Iranian is now focused on claiming gold at Beijing's Olympics in August.

'God gave me the power to get this result. I was hoping for 70 metres, but had difficulties with my spikes on the last throw,' said Hadadi, a former world junior champion.

'I am only 23, so I have a a long career ahead of me and enough time to improve.

'With my Russian coach I mostly train in Tehran, my training has been going well and I will soon be back to my Olympic preparations.

'To win the Olympics is my biggest dream.'