Report12 Sep 2009


Event REPORT - 800m - MEN

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World leader David Rudisha continues his late-season run of good form with victory in the men's 800m (© Getty Images)

There was quite an amount of consolation in this race for David Rudisha. The Kenyan who had been among the favourites to win the gold medal at the Berlin World Championships and then missed the final showed a great performance in the 800 m at the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final. Leading the race from start to finish the 20 year-old stormed to one of his major wins in his young career. Rudisha clocked 1:44.85 minutes, which will remain as the Final record forever now. And he secured what is probably the biggest prize money he has won so far: $30,000.

Coming out of the first bend Rudisha was already in the lead, controlling the race. After a conservative first lap of 53.00 seconds it was America’s Nick Symmonds who tried to get past the Kenyan twice. But on both occassions (right after 400m and after the 600m) Rudisha responded swiftly, increased the tempo and stayed in the lead. While Symmonds eventually finished sixth in 1.46.19 there was noone else capable to match the strong finish of the youngster on the homestraight. Gary Reed (Canada) took second with 1:45.23  while World Champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (South Africa) was third in 1:45.53.

“It was a nice race and since it is the World Athletics Final I am happy that I finished inside the top three,” said Mulaudzi, while David Rudisha commented: “It is great for me to have won this one. I feel very well and I responded well.”

Jörg Wenig for the IAAF

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