Rudisha sets the record straight
The Kenyan world record holder in the 800 metres was an emerging force in the last World Championships in 2009 in the German capital but failed to progress past the semifinals, a defeat that stoked his competitive fires in every meet since then.
On Tuesday at the Daegu stadium, Rudisha erased that blot with a race of controlled aggression, winning a shining piece of gold to attest his status as one of the great champions of this event.
On the fourth night of the 13th World Championships in athletics, Rudisha was just one of the big names coming through with his reputation intact. Defending champions came crashing down in the men’s 400 metres and heptathlon, while Yelena Isinbayeva, once the undisputed queen of pole vault, messed up her quest to regain the title, ending up in a miserable sixth spot.
The men’s 800 metres final was billed as a battle between Rudisha and his Sudanese rival Abubaker Kaki. But the Kenyan’s greater desire was apparent in every stride he took around the blue track as he never gave his opponent even a sniffing chance.
“I am really proud of this win. In Berlin, I was affected by the weather, and even though I broke the world record twice last year (1:41.01 being his best), I was under pressure as I didn’t have a title. Now that I have it, I am really happy,” said Rudisha after his victory in 1:43.91.
Rudisha controlled the race from the front, covering the first lap in 51.33 seconds, even as the 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia and Kaki went in pursuit of the Kenyan. Rudisha maintained his advantage in the back straight as well and stepped up with about 150 metres left, leaving the other two to fight for the silver.
Kaki, straining every sinew, edged Borzkovsky for the second place, timing 1:44.41 to be Sudan’s first Worlds medallist.
Isinbayeva had failed to register a height at Berlin and was determined to prove her critics wrong here. But the Olympic champion, after clearing 4.65, could not cross over either at 4.75 or 4.80, with her final try not even reaching the bar.
“Everything was ready for a victory; I do not know what went wrong. I am feeling very sad now,” said the Russian, whose world record stands at 5.06 metres. “But these moments happen in life.”
Brazilian Fabiana Murer won the gold – her country’s first in World Championships history – in a South American record of 4.85 metres. Jennifer Suhr, the leader this year, ended fourth at 4.70.
LaShawn Merritt, the 400M champion who is coming back from a doping ban, was pipped at the post by young Grenadian bomber Kirani James. The 18-year-old World Junior champion had served notice of his talent at the London Diamond League earlier this month and on this day, he underlined his class with a stunning sprint to the finish.
Merritt, who had a world leading 44.35 in the heats, seemed all set to wrap it up when James turned on the power in the straight and inched ahead in the final few metres, timing a personal best of 44.60 to the American’s 44.63.
Ennis misfires
A poor effort in javelin ended Jessica Ennis’ title defence in heptathlon. The Briton just could manage only 39.95 metres in the sixth event, and that allowed Russia’s Tatyana Chernova (52.95M) to open up a comfortable lead.
Ennis was required to win by a massive margin in the 800 metres but the Russian, a strong competitor in this event, protected her lead with a solid run. Chernova won gold with 6880 points – the best score witnessed in the event after Carolina Kluft’s 7032 in 2007. Ennis took the silver in 6751.
Ennis had a lead of 151 points after day one and produced a personal best of 6.51 in long jump on day two to stay ahead. But Chernova struck the decisive blow with her big effort in javelin.
Results: Men: 400M: Kirani James (Grenada) 44.60 seconds, 1; LaShawn Merritt (USA) 44.63, 2; Kevin Borlee (Belgium) 44.90, 3.
800M: David Rudisha (Kenya) 1:43.91, 1; Abubaker Kaki (Sudan) 1:44.41, 2; Yuriy Borzakovskiy (Russia) 1:44.49, 3.
Discus throw: Robert Harting (Germany) 68.97 metres, 1; Gerd Kanter (Estonia) 66.95, 2; Ehsan Hadadi (Iran) 66.08, 3.
Women: 3000M steeplechase: Yuliya Zaripova (Russia) 9:07.03, 1; Habiba Ghribi (Tunisia) 9:11.97, 2; Micah Cheywa (Kenya) 9:17.16, 3.
Pole vault: Fabiana Murer (Brazil) 4.85 metres, 1; Martina Strutz (Germany) 4.80, 2; Svetlana Feofanova (Russia) 4.75, 3.
Heptathlon: Tatyana Chernova (Russia) 6880 points, 1; Jessica Ennis (Britain) 6751, 2; Jennifer Oeser (Germany) 6572, 3.
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