The joint world record holder, Wilson Kipketer of Denmark, ran from gun to tape to retain his world 800m title in 1:43.38 in a race that included the seven fastest men in the world this year. The eighth man in the final, Rich Kenah of the USA, stole the bronze medal in his best ever time, 1:44.25, behind Norberto Tellez of Cuba, who clocked 1:44.00, his best time of the year.
Kipketer burst straight into the lead from the gun followed by USA’s Mark Everett and Tellez. He hit the 200m mark in 23.47, world record pace, and already had a string of runners trailing in his wake. The great Dane had a lead of some three or four metres as he passed 400m in 49.68.
As they entered the back straight Tellez began to move past Everett, trying to get close to Kipketer. But at 600m (1:16.99) there was still a three metre lead and Kipketer came into the home straight comfortably ahead.
Behind him a battle was building for the minor medals - as Everett started to fade, Olympic champion Vebjoern Rodal came from the back with Kenya’s Patrick Konchellah, Dutchman Marko Koers and Kenah - but the Cuban held on for silver. Kenah, coming through on the inside, dipped at the line to edge out Konchellah by one hundredth of a second.
