Rudisha smashes own Diamond League record in Birmingham
Kenya's David Rudisha celebrates winning the men's 600 metres during the 2016 IAAF Birmingham Diamond League athletics meeting at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on June 5, 2016. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- The day also saw World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot win the women’s 5,000m.
- Rudisha cruised pass the 200m mark in 23.31 seconds to crush his previous time of 1:13.71 set at the same championships in 2014.
- Rudisha’s time is now second fastest time ever over 600m after USA Johnny Gray’s 1:12.81 set in 1986.
Olympic and World 800m champion David Rudisha made a comeback, smashing his own Diamond League record with a new time of 1 minute and 13.10 seconds in 600m race at Birmingham Meet on Sunday.
World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop and World 3,000m silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto also ruled the roost, winning their respective races not only in meet records but also world-leading times.
The day also saw World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot win the women’s 5,000m after previous failed attempts in Doha (3,000m) and Prefontaine Classic (5,000m).
Rudisha, who is the World 800m record holder (1:40.91), cruised pass the 200m mark in 23.31 seconds to crush his previous time of 1:13.71 set at the same championships in 2014.
Rudisha edged out Frenchman Pierre-Ambroise Bosse and Erik Sowinski from United States in 1:13.21and 1:15.06 respectively. Rudisha’s time is now second fastest time ever over 600m after USA Johnny Gray’s 1:12.81 set in 1986.
It was Rudisha’s first race since finishing a distant fifth in Shanghai in 1:46.24 on May 14 where compatriot Ferguson Rotich won in 1:45.68. Rudisha now heads to Stockholm on June 16 where he will compete in 800m before Olympic trials.
SMASHING MEETING RECORD
Kiprop went for his third Diamond League victory this season in style, smashing the Meeting Record with world-leading new time of 3 minutes and 29.33 seconds.
Kiprop, the three times World 1,500m champion, uphold the momentum from victories in the 1,500m and Bowerman Mile in world-leading times of 3:32.16 and 3:51.45 in Doha and Prefontaine Classic respectively, to once again edged out Moroccan Abdelaati Iguider to second in 3:33.1as Willis Nicholas from New Zealand wound third in 3:34.29.
Kipruto, the 2013 and 2015 World 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist, claimed his fourth victory in Meet Record time of 8:00.12, beating his personal best of 8:01.16 set in Shanghai in 2013.
Kipruto beat Paul Kipsiele and Barnabas Kipyego to second and third in 8:10.19 and 8:14.74 respectively as Kenyans claimed the first six places.
Kipruto was fresh from winning in Rome on Thursday in a world-leading time of 8:01.41 seconds, just missing his personal best by 0.25 seconds. His performance followed similar feat in Doha and Rabat.
Cheruiyot, who finished fourth in 3,000m in Doha (8:31.86) and third in 5,000m at Prefontaine Classic (14:35.69), claimed her first Diamond League victory this season, winning women's 5,000m in a time of 15:12:79. She beat her compatriots 2013 World 5,000m silver medallist Mercy Cherono and Janet Kisa to second and third in 15:12.85 and 15:19.48 respectively.
