Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt held on to win the 100 meters while China claimed a shock victory in men's 4x100m relay at Friday's Diamond League meet in Monaco.
Bolt, who has won eight Olympic and 11 world gold medals, beat off competition from Isiah Young of the United States in the last 30 meters to win in 9.95 seconds at Stade Louis II in Monaco. Young clocked 9.98. Akani Simbine of South Africa was third in 10.02.
Bolt will retire from the sport after next month's world championships in London, where he will compete in the 100m and 4x100m relay.
Van Niekerk was also made to work in the 400m, fighting off a late surge from Botswanan rival Isaac Makwala.
Van Niekerk, however, dug deep and surged home in a meeting record of 43.73sec, Makwala setting a personal best of 43.84 in second.
Van Niekerk's teammate Caster Semenya put up another fine performance in the women's 800m, timing a Diamond League record of 1:55.27.
Kenyan Emmanuel Korir, on his professional debut, set another season's leading best in the men's 800m in 1:43.10.
Kenya's Elijah Manangoi surprised the field to win the men's 1500m, out-sprinting Timothy Cheruiyot to win in a season's fastest of 3:28.80.
US women continued their domination of the 100m hurdles, world record holder Kendra Harrison (12.51sec) leading home Sharika Nelvis, with Australia's 2012 Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson in fourth.
In men's 4x100m relay, the Chinese quartet of Wu Zhiqiang, Xie Zhenye, Su Bingtian and Zhang Peimeng won the title in 38.19 seconds.
