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Rudisha breaks his World Record in Rieti
Rudisha lowers 800m World record again, 1:41.01;
- IAAF World Challenge
relnewsRieti, Italy –
At this evening’s the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Rieti, which was celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Kenyan David Rudisha, who lowered the World 800m record* last week in Berlin to a time of 1:41.09, further reduced the all-time best for two laps to 1:41.01*.
Rudisha’s time today was exactly one second faster than his winning time last year on the Rieti track which was an African record at the time, and further buried the memory of Wilson Kipketer’s 1:41.11, a World record which had withstood all assaults until this time last week.
His training partner Sammy Tangui paced him at a super-fast 48.20 in the first 400 metres followed by Jackson Kivuva and Rudisha who took the lead with 300 metres to go.
Rudisha went through 600 metres in the lead in 1:14.56 and continued to push the pace with his smooth stride. His run in the final straight was a triumphal race against the clock.
“I just knew I was in good shape. The conditions were perfect. I expected to break two records in seven days,” said Rudisha. “I want to return to training for next year because 2011 will be a World Championships record,” continued Rudisha.
Rudisha’s record was the perfect birthday for the 40th anniversary of the Rieti meeting. It was the eighth World record broken in the history of Rieti. The last athlete who managed before Rudisha was Asafa Powell who clocked the men’s 100 metres in 9.74 in 2007.
“I have always received a very warm welcome in Rieti. I love this track and the Rieti crowd who have always given their support. This record is for them,” continued Rudisha.
Asked on which part of the race he needs to improve to further lower his World record in the future, Rudisha said: “I cannot say now what I need to improve. I will see in training with my coach what I can improve but I think I need to change only small details.”
Boaz Lalang clocked an impressive 1:42.95 to finish second ahead of USA’s Nick Symmonds, third in 1:43.76 (PB), and European silver medallist Michael Rimmer from Great Britain who dipped under 1:44 for the first time in his career with 1:43.89. European champion Marcin Lewandowski from Poland lost his continental leadership but produced a new seasonal best in fifth place with 1:44.10.
Men - 800 Metres - Race 1
1 David Lekuta Rudisha KEN 1:41.01 World Record
2 Boaz Kiplagat Lalang KEN 1:42.95
3 Nick Symmonds USA 1:43.76
4 Michael Rimmer GBR 1:43.89
5 Marcin Lewandowski POL 1:44.10
6 Arturo Casado ESP 1:44.74
7 Jackson Mumbwa Kivuva KEN 2:23.39
Sammy Tangui KEN DNF
Men - 800 Metres - Race 2
1 Job Kinyor KEN 1:46.40
2 Antonio Manuel Reina ESP 1:46.56
3 Prince Mumba ZAM 1:46.64
4 Andrew Osagie GBR 1:46.81
5 Lachlan Renshaw AUS 1:47.18
6 Luis Alberto Marco ESP 1:47.69
7 Pablo Solares MEX 1:47.79
8 Christian Obrist ITA 1:49.59
Eric Milazar MRI DNF
