AK sweats over Rudisha injury as Moscow beckons

Olympic and World 800m champion, David Rudisha will not compete in the national trials for the World Championships in Moscow set for July 13 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Athletics Kenya (AK) senior vice president, David Okeyo said Rudisha, who is the two-lap race world record holder, will get a wild card to the championships planned for August 10 to 18 but only if will have recovered fully from a knee injury.

Withdrew from race

The 24-year-old Rudisha was forced to withdraw from the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting on June 6 after an MRI scan revealed bruising of the bone and underlying ligaments on his knee.

Rudisha, who bettered his own world record with a new time of 1:40.91 with his explosive victory at the 2012 London Olympic Games, is currently getting treatment in Germany where he has already started with light sessions in the gym.

“We have been in contact talk with Rudisha virtually on daily basis and he has confirmed to us that his recovery was well underway, albeit slowly,” Okeyo said.
“The good news is that the injury didn’t require an operation.”

Ruled out of trials

Okeyo, who was flanked by fellow vice president Paul Mutwii, explained: “For sure he won’t make it for trials and we are all concerned but we shall definitely include him in the team by virtue of his status and good times this season.”

Okeyo said the trials will be a one-day event involving 132 men and 60 women athletes in nine events-Javelin (men), 200m (men), 4x400m relay, 400m, 800, 1,500m, 3000m steeplechase, 5,000m and 10,000m.

The first two athletes to cross the line will claim automatic places in the Moscow-bound team with the third place to be filled by a panel of AK coaches.

“Only those who have attained the World Championships qualifying time will be invited for the trials with the exemption of the 200m and 400m male athletes whom we have considered,” said Okeyo.

javelin throwers
“We have invited specific javelin throwers whom we think have the potential to qualify even though we have one already.”

Okeyo also indicated that Kenya has an added advantage of fielding four runners in four races-men’s 1,500m and 5,000m and men and women’s 3,000m steeplechase.

This is after the International Association of Athletics Federations decided to give winners of the 2012 Diamond League automatic entry and defending champions.

However, it will be at the discretion of the technical bench to include the defending champions and Diamond League winners in the team basing on their form and discipline.

Kenya won 17 medals; seven gold, six silver and four bronze during the previous world championship in Daegu, South Koren in 2011.

Asbel Kiprop is looking forward to defend  his 1,500m title with the 2012 Diamond League 1,500m winner Silas Kiplagat also hoping for a direct place  based on his form.

Ezekiel Kemboi won the world title at the 2011 Daegu Worlds in the 3,000m steeplechase race where Paul Kipsiele Koech emerged the 2012 Diamond League winner.

Also hoping for direct entries to the competition are the 2012 Diamond League winners, Isaiah Kiplangat in 5,000m and Milcah Chemos, who won bronze in 3,000m steeplechase in Daegu.

The team will enter residential training in preparation for the championships at Kasarani starting July 17 before departure for Moscow on August 6.