Kenya's 800m game plan worked to the letter

By Mutwiri Mutuota

On the eve of Sunday's Commonwealth 800m final, Boaz Lalang, his cousin Abraham Kiplagat and their teammate Richard Kiplagat finished their warm-down at the track adjacent to Jawaharlal Nehru Complex, and hurdled together with their coach Nicholas Kilisio.

They had just secured their tickets for the medal race at the semis, and in low tones, they began charting their scheme for the final with Lalang, the World Indoor silver winner, acting as the conductor while the others nodded in agreement to whatever he was saying.

"They have promised to bring all the medals tomorrow," Kilisio confided to this reporter.

“But they can't speak about it now. They are leaving early to go to their rest," he added as the trio left for their bus.

"That would be a first ever at the history of the Commonwealth," yours truly pointed out. "You mean? Well, I will let them know that, it will motivate them even more," the coach replied as he left to join his charges.

Sensing that a historic moment was on the cards, it was imperative to be at the complex at 5.55pm Delhi time, when the race was due to start. As they waited for the start in lane 4 (Richard), lane 5 (Lalang) and lane 7 (Abraham), the Kenyans looked serene as their rivals paced in anxiety. Then the gun, that in these games makes the sound of a broken trumpet, went, setting off one of the moments of Delhi 2010.

Lalang surged to the lead with Richard and Abraham in tow and that is how the race ended, the Kenyans posting 1:46.60, 1:47.37 and 1:49.57 to claim all medals and a slice of Commonwealth folk role since what had just transpired had never been witnessed before since the men 800m programme was introduced in 1970.

As soon as the dust settled on their victorious parade, Lalang and the Kiplagats realised they had just thrown their names in the hat for the ever expanding list of Kenyan two-lap racers capable of being tagged worthy contenders for next year's Daegu Worlds and London 2012 Olympic Games.

"Next year's trials for the World Championships will be so difficult. We have the three who won all the medals at the African Championships, Olympic champion and now us. It means I have to train even harder," Abraham the bronze winner expressed.

Delhi was the perfect end to his first season on track that started with a fifth finish (1:46.98) at the World Athletics Challenge meet in Dakar on April 24. "I owe it to my cousin Boaz who encouraged me to apply for a scholarship in America where he studies. When they refused to grant me a visa, he asked me to start training hard for running and that is what I did. I cannot describe how I feel," the 26-year-old said.

He was the third (1:44.49) finisher at the Berlin ISTAF Diamond League meet, where David Rudisha first shattered the 800m record of 1:41.11 by clocking 1:41.09.

"I was part of history that day and I'm a part of history now. What more motivation can one seek to excel? I'm returning home to train as much as I can so that next year, I can be among the best.

"His only rue from the race was nearly tripping as they came into the final bend that probably denied him a higher finish. "I almost fell, but I somehow managed to have the stamina to remain standing. From there, what was left was to chase the others and ensure all medals return home."

"This has shown that Kenyans are the best in men 800m and I'm very happy to be among those who will end the season with a medal," said Richard who was selected for these games after withdrawal of world record holder, David Rudisha.

"For long, I have tried to make the Kenya team, but guys are strong. I got my chance and now I'm returning with silver. I'm so proud and even happier that our plan worked."

Then it was the turn of the champion who after bursting to Team Kenya in 2008 Beijing Olympics, went on to exit at the semis before enduring a lean 2009 where he crashed out of the Worlds at the Trials. Lalang was not even selected for the World Indoors, with his manager, James Templeton agreeing to foot all his costs, a deed that was rewarded with a silver medal behind Abubaker Kaki in Doha.

"Last year, I was studying full time and I did not train well. This season, I went back to part time learning and improved my training with Bernard Lagat who has helped me," the Business Administration, Accounting option student at Rend Lake University in Illinois told FeverPitch.

He has set sights on breaking 1:41 barrier next season in the footsteps of his stable mate Rudisha in addition to securing a ticket to Daegu.

"It will be difficult but I have seen enough development in my career this season to believe it can happen," the runner who ran his 1:42.95 PB in Rieti where Rudisha broke his own 1:41.11 record to clock the all time leading 1:41.01 heeded.

With the tutelage of Kenyan born American Lagat, who remains one of the most polished distance runners of recent times, Lalang is on the right path.