Kenyan David Rudisha broke the 800m world record for the second time in a week, setting a new marker of 1min 41.01 seconds at a meeting in Rieti, Italy on Sunday.
It was only last Sunday in Berlin that the 21-year-old had set a mark of 1:41.09 to beat Wilson Kipketer’s 13-year-old record by two hundredths of a second.
“I just knew I was in good shape. The conditions were perfect. I expected to break two records in seven days,” Rudisha said.
Rudisha’s record was the perfect birthday for the 40th anniversary of the Rieti meeting. It was the eighth world record broken in the history of the venue.
“I have always received a very warm welcome in Rieti. I love this track and the Rieti crowd who have always given their support. This record is for them,” he said.
Asked on which part of the race he needs to improve to further lower his record in the future, Rudisha said: “I cannot say now what I need to improve. I will see in training with my coach what I can improve, but I think I need to change only small details.”
At Rieti last year the 2006 world junior champion set an African record as he exploded onto the scene in senior middle distance running.
Although he only reached the semi-finals at last year’s World Championships, he continued to improve resulting in his eventually beating the record set by Kipketer.
Having done so, Rudisha had said he could go faster as it was his first attempt to break the record.
He was taken through the bell by compatriot pace-setter Sammy Tangui in 48.20 seconds before streaking away to win by almost two seconds from another compatriot Boaz Kiplagat Lalang in second.
American Nick Symmonds, third in 1:43.76, and Britain’s Michael Rimmer, fourth in 1:43.89, both ran personal bests.
Tariku Bekele, the younger brother of Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele, won the 3000m in a world leading time of 7:28.70 with Kenyan-born American Bernard Lagat second in a US record 7:29.00.
Earlier, Jamaican Nesta Carter equalled Tyson Gay’s world leading time of 9.78 seconds over 100m in a thrilling race that also saw two men set national records, five manage personal bests and two others setting season bests.
Carter’s run broke his own previous best of 9.85 and came from lane seven.
American Ryan Bailey in second with 9.88 and Jamaican Mario Forsythe, third in 9.95, also ran personal bests.
France’s Christophe Lemaitre, the first white sprinter to run under 10 seconds, equalled his French record in the semi-final and then shaved one hundreth of a second off that in the final, finishing fourth in 9.97.
Norway’s Jaysuma Saidy Ndure also set a national record, finishing seventh in 10.00.
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