Rudisha finds the going tough at Prefontaine Classic
PHOTO | ERIC FEFERBERG | FILE David Lekuta Rudisha competes in the men's 800m final during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 9, 2012, in London. Rudisha found the going tough on his return after year out with an injury at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon after he finished seventh in the 800m in a race won by Botwana’s Amos Nijel on May 31, 2014.
What you need to know:
It was Rudisha’s first race in a year since he sustained a knee injury while training in New York in May last year, the injury that prevented him from defending his title at last year’s World Championships in Moscow.
World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop was equally not at his best after failing to win the Bowerman Mile race won Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti in a world leading time of 3.47.32. Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat came second while Ethiopia’s Aman Wote settled for third in 3:48.60.
World record holder David Rudisha found the going tough on his return after year out with an injury at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon after he finished seventh in the 800m in a race won by Botwana’s Amos Nijel on Saturday.
It was Rudisha’s first race in a year since he sustained a knee injury while training in New York in May last year, the injury that prevented him from defending his title at last year’s World Championships in Moscow.
Amos won the race in a world leading time of 1.43.63, Mohammed Aman (ETH) 1:43.99 and Abubaker Kaki (SUD) 1:44.09 finished second and third respectively.
MIXED RESULTS
It was a night of mixed results for Kenya at the IAAF Diamond League in Eugene where Hellen Obiri continued with her fine form this season in the 1,500 meters after beating Ethiopian-born Swedish runner Abebe Aregawi to win in a world leading time of 3:57.05. Aregawi was second in 3.57.57 while Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon (3:58.01) settled for bronze.
Caled Mwangangi out-sprinted Yenew Alamirew of Ethiopia to win the 5,000m in 13.01.71.
In an earlier race, Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa won the women’s 3000m Steeplechase with Kenya’s Milcah Chemos finishing a distant fourth.
World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop was equally not at his best after failing to win the Bowerman Mile race won Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti in a world leading time of 3.47.32. Kenya’s Silas Kiplagat came second while Ethiopia’s Aman Wote settled for third in 3:48.60.
KIRANI WINS 400M
Chemos started the race slowly and never looked like she would pose a threat to the leading pack. In the men’s 400m, Kirani James of Grenada won the race in another world leading time of 43.97 beating USA’s Lashawn Merritt 43.97 in a photo-finish decision with Youssef Ahmed Masrahi (KSA) coming third in 44.77 in the pulsating race.
Tori Bowie of the US stunned a star-studded field of athletes to emerge victorious in the women's 200m in a world leading time of 22.18. Blessing Okagbare (NGR) 22.23 and Allyson Felix (USA) 22.44 came second and third respectively.
