2013 Doha 800: David Rudisha Has To Work For It But He Opens 2013 Season With World Leading 800 Win
Rudisha Closes Faster Than He Did In London To Get Revenge on Mohammad Aman
by LetsRun.com
March 10, 2013
The 2013 800 season got under way in good fashion for world record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha of Kenya tonight in Doha, Qatar as Rudisha won in a new world leading time of 1:43.87.
But Rudisha had to work for this one. The entire field was basically right on Rudisha heels at the 600 mark but Rudisha was able to pull away on the homestretch to end up with a clear victory as Mohammad Aman, who had beaten Rudisha in the last race of 2012, was second in 1:44.21.
Kenya’s 22-year old Job Kinyor, who PRd in Doha last year for 2nd at 1:43.76, ran well in Doha once again as he ended up third this year in 1:44.24.
A rare occasion. Eight guys within sight of David Rudisha in the final 100.
The Race
Rudisha took his customary spot up front behind the rabbit at 200 meters tonight but he showed no interest in going with the pace setter. The rabbit hit 400 in 49.04 whereas Rudisha was probably back around 50 flat. The pace slowed down through 600 as the field became tightly bunched behind Rudisha (1:17.70).
Coming off the final turn, Aman was right on Rudisha’s shoulder. Aman moved outside – was the nearly unthinkable – Rudisha losing – about to happen for the second straight race?
No. Rudisha had smartly saved a lot for the finish and pulled away for the clear win.
Results and quick takes below.
Quick Take (QT) #1: In our meet preview, we tried to remind you to expect Rudisha to be challenged here. We wrote: “Even though we expect Rudisha to win, don’t expect him to be necessarily clear of the field until the end. Remember last year, he had company for more than 700 meters.”
People who were stunned by seeing people so close to Rudisha need to remember it’s an 800 meter race. It normally always come down to the final 100. Even at the Olympics when Rudisha set a World Record, the second place finisher finished within a second of Rudisha (.82).
QT #2: We actually thought Rudisha ran a really smart race. Races like this, where he’s out front but not with the rabbit are great practice for championships where there are no rabbits and where Rudisha isn’t always going to just want to run as fast as he can for as long as he can like he did in London (particularly if the weather isn’t ideal).
Rudisha has proven on several occasions like tonight he’s really good at getting out fast, relaxing through 600 and slamming it home like he did last night.
QT #3: Here’s a stat that will stun you.
Rudisha’s final 200 meter split in London: 26.61Rudisha final 200 meter split tonight in Doha: 26.17.
Good luck beating that.
QT #3: Olympic bronze medalist Timothy Kitum was also in the field. Kitum, who had split a 1:45.4 at Penn Relays, was dead last in 1:46.54. The third Kenyan Olympian from 2012, Anthony Chemut, also was in the field and finished 7th in 1:45.07.
QT #4: For the 2nd straight year, Brit Michael Rimmer went sub-1:45 in Doha. Last year, it was his only 1:45 clocking of the year.
A happy David Rudisha
800 Metres – Men Race 2
Pts
1 Rudisha , David Lekuta KEN 1:43.87 4
2 Aman , Mohammed ETH 1:44.21 2
3 Kinyor , Job Koech KEN 1:44.24 1
4 Bosse , Pierre-Ambroise FRA 1:44.77
5 Balla , Musaeb Abdulrahman QAT 1:44.83
6 Rimmer , Michael GBR 1:44.97
7 Chemut , Anthony KEN 1:45.06
8 Osagie , Andrew GBR 1:45.41
9 Kitum , Timothy KEN 1:46.54
Kibet , Moses KEN DNF
Intermediate times:
400m: Kibet, Moses Kipkemboi (KEN) 49.04
600m: Rudisha, David (KEN) 1:17.70
More LRC Coverage of Doha :
*Men’s 800: Men’s 800: David Rudisha Has To Work For It But He Opens 2013 Season With World Leading 800 Win
*Men’s 1500: Asbel Kiprop Is Back – Kenyan Dominates 2013 Diamond League Opener in Doha
*Men’s 3000: Hagos Gebrhiwet Makes A Statement With Impressive 3000 Win – 18-Year Old Phenom Seems To Be The Man To Beat in 2013
*Women’s 1500: Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi Wins As Three Women Run 3:57.54 or Better!!!
*Women’s Steeple: Lydiah Chepkurui pulls off a big upset