by Larry Eder
David Rudisha, 2012 London Olympics, photo by PhotoRun.net
David Rudisha, on July 5, predicted the future. ” The world record will require perfect conditions.” He tried in Paris on July 6, but the torrential rain that we experienced in Paris just before the meet made the evening a bit chilly, and David, frustrated, ran 1:41.58.
So, we get to August 9, and a nice, warm evening in London. Yes, I said, nice and warm, and London all in the same sentence.
David Rudisha took off like a man on a mission. And, he was. David hit the 200 meters in 23.6 and the 400 meters in 49.28. Right behind him were Amos, Kitum, Solomon and Symmonds.
David Rudisha is an elegant runner. His stride is long and effortless, and as his arms pump, he flies away from the field. 80,000 fans cheered Rudisha on, they willed him on.
Perhaps, from that collective will, David Rudisha gathered additional strength as he went where no one has gone before him. Rudisha hit the 600 meters in 1:15.38 and he was off, no one could catch him. The ghosts of past World records surely watched as David Rudisha took the world record down to 1:40.91.
David Rudisha led from the front the entire way, with no pacemakers and ran the race he was meant to run. 1:40.91 is the world record now, and Mr. Rudisha will go faster, much faster.
But for today, his gold Olympic medal will look very nice with his World Championship gold medal. David Rudisha is an Olympic gold medalist. The smile will be large tonight, but, the contentment even greater.
Consider this. Two men under 1:42 (Amos set WJR!). Five under 1:43, and eight under 1:44. Per our friends in the IAAF, this has never been done before.
For the US, Duane Solomon and Nick Symmonds both got under 1:43!
800m, 1. D Rudisha, 1:40.91, WR, 2. N Amos, Bot, 1:41.73, WJR, NR, 3.T Kitum, 1:42.53, KEN, PB, 4. Solomon, US, 1:42.82, PB, 5. N Symmonds, 1:42.95, PB, 6. M Aman, ETH, 1:43.20,NR, 7. A Kaki, SUD, 1:43.22, SB, 8. A Osagie, GBR, 1:43.77, PB, #london2012, #olympics, #800meters
