Kenya's David Mutua crosses the line in the 800m in a PB of 1:46.41 (© Getty Images)
Kenya extended their total dominance of the men's distance events to include the middle distances as David Mutinda Mutua ran down the U.S. pair of Casimir Loxom and Robby Andrews on the 800m homestretch to complete a full set of gold medals. Kenya has not lost a men's event at 800m or longer here in Moncton.
The race didn't come easy for Mutua, as his teammate Dickson Kipsang Tuwei set a brisk early pace with Loxom on his outside shoulder. They passed 200m in 24.72 as Andrews fell in behind them, and at 400m (52.19) it was Tuwei, Loxom, Andrews and Mutua in the front.
The 600m split was 1:18.90, and that was where first Loxom and then Andrews moved past Tuwei and into the lead. It looked like the Americans might pull off a 1-2 sweep as they charged down the homestretch, but Mutua had been shepherding his energy and came on strong in the last 50m as Loxom and Andrews labored.
Mutua took the victory in a PB 1:46.41, with Loxom another PB in second with 1:46.57. Andrews crossed in 1:47.00, just ahead of the hard-charging Niall Brooks of Great Britain, who scored another PB in 1:47.02.
Mutua, who was not even on the year's top ten list, scored the second-fastest junior time of the year (behind Andrews' 1:45.54 from the American collegiate championships). After crossing the line, he flopped on his back and put his hands on his head in disbelief before popping back up to celebrate with Tuwei, who finished 6th in 1:48.97.
