Red hot Nijel stuns world champ Rudisha in 800m final

What you need to know:

  • A tactical Sum stayed in front to win in 2:01.38 but her mentor and 2007 Osaka World champion Janeth Jepksogei’s dream of recapturing the title went up is smoke after finishing seventh in 2:04.60 in the second semi-final.

Olympic and world record holder David Rudisha had to settle for silver after Nijel Amos from Botswana burst past with less than 50m to go to win the men’s 800m final Thursday.

Rudisha and compatriot Ferguson Rotich locked their rivals with some front running strategy until the last bend when Nijel went on the outside lane before sprinting past the East Africans.

Nijel, who lost to Rudisha at the 2012 London Olympics, clocked 1:45.18 to triumph as the Kenyan settled for second in 1:45.48.

Rotich came in fourth in 1:46.09 behind South Africa’s Olivier Andre 1:46.03. It was Rudisha’s third defeat at the hands of Nijel after Eugene and Monaco legs of the Diamond League.
World champion Eunice Sum, 26, set the stage for her second major title within a year when glided through the rains at Hampden Park to win her semi-final 800m.

A TACTICAL SUM

A tactical Sum stayed in front to win in 2:01.38 but her mentor and 2007 Osaka World champion Janeth Jepksogei’s dream of recapturing the title went up is smoke after finishing seventh in 2:04.60 in the second semi-final.

Jessica Judd from England powered to victory in 2:02.26 to set up an explosive looking final battle with Sum today. “It wasn’t easy but I just had to run my race and I feel great to reach the final,” said Sum. “I just want to be on the podium and that will be a great achievement for me irrespective of the colour of the medal.”

Despite failing to reach the final, Jepkosgei, who won the 800m title at the 2006 Melbourne, said she wasn’t disappointed even though Glasgow Games marked her last “Club” Games.