31 Aug 2011

Rudisha extends unbeaten record in Daegu

6:11 am on 31 August 2011

Kenyan track athletes dominated day four at the world athletics championships, led by David Rudisha with another superb front-running win in the 800 metres final.

The 22-year-old Kenyan remains unbeaten over the distance for two years, and although he ran nearly three seconds slower than his world record, the former champion Sebastian Coe described his performance as one of the best for years at a world championship.

Both heats of the mens 1500 metres were won by Kenyans, Daniel Komen and Asbel Kiprop, with New Zealand's Nick Willis finishing a comfortable second in the first heat which was the faster by nearly three seconds.

The upset of the day on the track was provided by 18 year old Kirani James from Grenada who ran down the defending 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States to give the tiny Caribbean country its first world championship medal.

James, the third youngest men's champion at a world championships, only made his debut as a professional athlete at the Diamond League meeting in London this month earlier this month.

Russia's athletics queen Yelena Isinbayeva became the latest big name failure. She was a well beaten 6th in the pole vault after just one clearance.