Commonwealth Games 800m: Rudisha off starting blocks

Kenya's David Rudisha competes to win the men's 800m race on the second day of the IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS

He has achieved the biggest prize in world athletics, but misses one crucial one: a Commonwealth Games medal.

World 800m record holder, David Rudisha, will begin his campaign for the ‘Club’ Games jewel when he lines up in 800m in round one at the Hampden Park Stadium here tonight.

The return-from-injury Rudisha, who basks in his 1:40.91 all-time mark, will be seeking to improve his season best time of 1:42.98 he posted at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco a fortnight ago.

“I am ready to compete. I have been longing to have a Commonwealth Games title and I am here to put the record right. I have recovered from injury and hope all will work out,” said Rudisha.

Rudisha has the world record, Africa, world and Olympics; all under his belt.
And competing in UK, the spiritual home of the Commonwealth nations, certainly stands out as a perfect ground for Rudisha to chase the jewel missing from his repository.

Rudisha will once again battle Botswana’s Olympic silver medalist Nijel Amos, who beat him at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco.

“I will handle him (Nijel Amos). I am not under pressure and I just want Kenyans to pray for me and promise not to disappoint them. I will do my best and leave the rest to God. You must also know that competing in Diamond League and championships are two different things. You need a lot of experience in championships,” said Rudisha.

Rudisha is the talk of the city here, with British newspapers including The Sunday Mail, the United Kingdom most read daily, reporting that Rudisha skipped most of the meetings in the global circuit to focus on the “Friendly Games.”

“Kenyan David Rudisha, the Olympic 800m champion could have earned appearance fees, a £24,000 bonus at the end of the season and much more of the £280,000 available at each of the 14 Diamond League events, but has prioritised the Commonwealth Games after missing the last season with a knee injury,” reported the Sunday Mail recently.

Rudisha will team up with Ferguson Rotich and Evans Kipkorir.
Rotich, who failed to impress at the World Championships in Moscow, will carry to the line up his 1:42.84 time he posted in Monaco recently.

But rookie Kipkorir, who has tried his luck in 800m, 10,000m, half marathon and marathon, would be out to realize his dreams here.

“I am well prepared and only want to qualify to semi- final,” he said.