London 2012 Olympic Games 800m champion and world record holder David Rudisha started his 2015 season with a win at the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday night, finishing in 1:45.01.
Rudisha took the lead over the final 200 meters, leaving Alex Rowe of Australia behind. Rowe finished in 1:47.38, just ahead of New Zealand’s Brad Mathas, who clocked 1:47.39.
Preparations and Performance ¶
Rudisha noted that he was not as advanced in his preparations as in previous years, which may have contributed to his relatively slower winning time. He also chose not to run a 400m race as a lead-in, unlike in his previous visits to Australia.
At the 400m mark, Rudisha’s pacemaker, Sammy Tangui, had a time of just under 51 seconds, with Rudisha a couple of strides back in around 51.5 seconds and Rowe on his heels.
Rudisha expressed satisfaction with his performance, considering the limited specific preparation he had undergone. His goal for the year is to regain his position at the top of the 800m rankings.
Upcoming Competitions ¶
Rudisha is set to compete against Rowe, Jeff Riseley, and Joshua Ralph at the Melbourne World Challenge meeting next Saturday, which marks the opening leg of the 2015 IAAF World Challenge.
Rudisha aims to bounce back to the top of 800m running after being beaten by Botswana’s Nijel Amos at the Commonwealth Games. He also hopes to reclaim the world title he won in Daegu, South Korea in 2011, which he vacated due to injury.
Rudisha has targeted a high 1:44 time to start his campaign, focusing solely on the summer Beijing global track and field event.
