Glasgow braces for Rudisha, Nijel collision in 800m final
David Rudisha (centre) runs to victory in his semi-final heat of the men's 800m event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 30, 2014. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL | AFP
What you need to know:
- It’s a final that everybody would have placed a bet on and the two leading 800m athletes did not disappoint during the semis in Glasgow on Wednesday.
- Rudisha made a return to track at the Prefontaine Classic on May 31 after a one year layoff due to a knee injury.
- Rudisha improved on his own world record with new times of 1:40.91 when he won the 2012 London Olympics title as Nijel won silver with personal best of 1:41.73.
Glasgow's Hampden Park will come alive Thursday night when World 800m record holder David Rudisha and Olympic silver medallist Amos Nijel come head-to-head for the third time this year in the men’s final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
It’s a final that everybody would have placed a bet on and the two leading 800m athletes did not disappoint during the semis in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Will Rudisha finally get his revenge against the man who has beaten him twice this year in the Diamond League legs of Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and Monaco?
NIJEL'S FORM
Nijel outclassed Rudisha on July 18 in Monaco with a world lead and meet record time of 1:42.45 in a race where the 2012 London Olympics champion finished fifth in a season best of 1:42.98. The performance just came one week after Rudisha won in Glasgow Grand Prix in a World Lead time of 1:43.34.
Rudisha made a return to track at the Prefontaine Classic on May 31 after a one-year layoff due to a knee injury. It’s the race where Nijel outclassed him for the first time, winning in a world lead and meet record time of 1:43.63. Rudisha was placed seventh in 1:44.87.
To set the stage for the explosive final, Rudisha, who looked composed, won his heat in 1:46.61 to guide compatriot Fergusson Rotich (1:46.88) and home athlete Guy Learmonth (1:47.78) to the final on Wednesday night.
BEST LOSER
On the other hand, Nijel won his semi-final in 1:45.65, beating Ronald Musagla (Uganda) 1:45.98 and Olivier Andre (South Africa) 1:46.30. Kenya’s Evans Kipkorir, who finished fourth in the semi, just sneaked in through as the best loser.
“The final is where the battle is. It is where the race starts but the most important thing is that I qualified for the final and I am focused on victory,” said Rudisha, with a gun-to-tape performance. “I will just sleep over it and come up with the most appropriate tactics that should carry the day.”
Rudisha reckoned that Nijel has been in top form while he just returned to training in March this year. “It’s amazing that I can return a sub 1:42 with only months from injury.”
Despite beating Rudisha twice, Nijel said he views the world record holder as a role model since he has a great fighting spirit. “I will also say he remains the King of the 800m race. But God knows what will happen in the final,” said Nijel.
WORLD RECORD
Rudisha improved on his own world record with new times of 1:40.91 when he won the 2012 London Olympics title as Nijel won silver with personal best of 1:41.73.
Just as they did in the semis, Rotich said they will seek to hit the front the three of them and lock out rivals. “The world missed Rudisha and I am happy he is back,” said Rotich.
Kipkorir said: “The race has favourites, but we should leave room for surprises since championship races are always open.”
Meanwhile, Kenya staged its second podium sweep Wednesday when former World junior champion Purity Kirui guided former champion Milcah Chemos and Joan Kipkemoi to victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
Kirui, the winner of the 2010 World Junior Championships, overtook Chemos, who was the defending champion, after the last hurdle to win in 9:30.96.
