Rudisha throws down Daegu gauntlet
Source: Agencies |
August 7, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
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WORLD 800-meter record holder David Rudisha heads to the world championships later this month with a first global track title at his mercy after a smooth victory at the London Diamond League meeting on Friday.
On a warm evening, the 22-year-old Kenyan extended his near two-year unbeaten run over two laps by easily holding off Sudan's twice world indoor champion Abubaker Kaki in what had been billed a mouth-watering head to head.
The graceful Rudisha has not tasted defeat in the 800 since he failed to qualify for the 2009 worlds final in Berlin and will be the man to beat at the global championships in Daegu, South Korea, which start on August 27.
He hit the front soon after the first lap and had too much power for Kaki, clocking one minute 42.91 seconds to Kaki's 1.43.13.
"I'm feeling in good shape and hopefully after the world championships I'll think of running something really fast," said the lanky Kenyan, who lowered his own world record to 1.41.01 in Italy last year.
Just as impressive was Grenada teenager Kirani James who could be a huge one-lap star after setting a world-leading 400 meters time this year of 44.61 in his first professional race.
The 18-year-old world junior champion burned around the Crystal Palace track, lowering the previous 2011 best of 44.65 set by compatriot Rondell Bartholomew.
With former world record holder and the fastest man over 100 meters this year Asafa Powell pulling out because of a groin injury, it was left to fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake to show he could feature in the medal shake-up in Korea.
Blake equaled his season's best to win in 9.95, a time made all the more impressive as it was into a strong headwind. Compatriot Nesta Carter was second in 10.01 and American Michael Rodgers third in 10.04.
The men's 110-meter hurdles should provide one of the highlights of the worlds with Cuban Dayron Robles striking a psychological blow over rival David Oliver of the United States, the only man to dip under 13 seconds this season, by taking victory.
The world record holder and Olympic champion crossed in 13.04, ahead of American Jason Richardson (13.08) and Oliver (13.19).
Robles' and Oliver's battle with China's former world and Olympic champion Liu Xiang should provide fireworks in Daegu.
"I feel very good because the time is my best this year," said Robles.
On a warm evening, the 22-year-old Kenyan extended his near two-year unbeaten run over two laps by easily holding off Sudan's twice world indoor champion Abubaker Kaki in what had been billed a mouth-watering head to head.
The graceful Rudisha has not tasted defeat in the 800 since he failed to qualify for the 2009 worlds final in Berlin and will be the man to beat at the global championships in Daegu, South Korea, which start on August 27.
He hit the front soon after the first lap and had too much power for Kaki, clocking one minute 42.91 seconds to Kaki's 1.43.13.
"I'm feeling in good shape and hopefully after the world championships I'll think of running something really fast," said the lanky Kenyan, who lowered his own world record to 1.41.01 in Italy last year.
Just as impressive was Grenada teenager Kirani James who could be a huge one-lap star after setting a world-leading 400 meters time this year of 44.61 in his first professional race.
The 18-year-old world junior champion burned around the Crystal Palace track, lowering the previous 2011 best of 44.65 set by compatriot Rondell Bartholomew.
With former world record holder and the fastest man over 100 meters this year Asafa Powell pulling out because of a groin injury, it was left to fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake to show he could feature in the medal shake-up in Korea.
Blake equaled his season's best to win in 9.95, a time made all the more impressive as it was into a strong headwind. Compatriot Nesta Carter was second in 10.01 and American Michael Rodgers third in 10.04.
The men's 110-meter hurdles should provide one of the highlights of the worlds with Cuban Dayron Robles striking a psychological blow over rival David Oliver of the United States, the only man to dip under 13 seconds this season, by taking victory.
The world record holder and Olympic champion crossed in 13.04, ahead of American Jason Richardson (13.08) and Oliver (13.19).
Robles' and Oliver's battle with China's former world and Olympic champion Liu Xiang should provide fireworks in Daegu.
"I feel very good because the time is my best this year," said Robles.
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