NAIROBI, Kenya, May 23- The David Rudisha caravan pitches tent in New York on Saturday in the third stop of the 2013 IAAF Diamond League with expectations buzzing the Olympics and world record holder will put on another blazing show.
Respected athletics blog, LetsRun.com that has its pulse on the sport expects the world champion who opened the season with a world leading 1:43.87 in Doha to once again prove untouchable.
“Rudisha mesmerized the New York crowd last year with a 1:41.74 win that in hindsight was a good omen for what he’d accomplish in London. Second place was nearly three seconds back last year (1:44.49).
“We expect Rudisha to dominate again this year and would be surprised if anyone in the field finishes within one second of him,” they wrote in their preview for the event.
“The one on paper who most likely would be closest to Rudisha is 18-year old Olympic bronze medallist, compatriot Timothy Kitum, who ran a stellar 1:42.53 in 2012.
“However, Kitum was dead last in Doha (1:46.54) two weeks ago so he’ll have to run way better than that here. There is a guy in the field who was within a second of Rudisha’s 1:43.87 win in Doha – France’s young, bright hope Pierre-Ambroise Bosse.
“In Doha, Bosse came away with a very strong 4th place finish and gave himself a nice early birthday present (he turned 21 the next day) – a lifetime PB of 1:44.77 (previous PB 1:44.97),” they add.
David Rudisha mesmerized the New York crowd last year with a 1:41.74 win that in hindsight was a good omen for what he’d accomplish in London. Second place was nearly three seconds back last year (1:44.49).
We expect Rudisha to dominate again this year and would be surprised if anyone in the field finishes within one second of him.
The one on paper who most likely would be closest to Rudisha is Kenya’s 18-year old Olympic bronze medallist, Timothy Kitum, who ran a stellar 1:42.53 in 2012. However, Kitum was dead last in Doha (1:46.54) two weeks ago so he’ll have to run way better than that here.
“Will anyone have the guts to try to stay close Rudisha in New York? They might try it but we doubt they’ll be successful,” they add.
France’s young, bright hope Pierre-Ambroise Bosse who came away with a very strong fourth finish in 1:44.77 to record his career best on his 21st birthday in Doha is another to watch.
Elsewhere, the Kenyan armada in New York will witness former African 1500m bronze winner, Army man Gideon Gathimba step up to the crowded 5000m as he seeks to re-establish himself as a distance running force.
World Cross champion, Japheth Korir, former World Cross junior silver winner, Vincent Chepkok, a 12:51.14 runner over the distance, David Bett, John Kipkoech and the evergreen Mark Kiptoo complete the local interest in the race.
The talented Ethiopian duo of Olympic silver medallist Dejen Gebremeskel and 18-year old world junior record holder Hagos Gebrhiwet who ran 12:46.81 and 12:47.53 in Paris last year remain the favourites.
Having stretched her legs to good effect during the Kenya Defence Forces championships, Beijing Olympics 1500m titleholder, Nancy Jebet Langat hopes to continue her route back to the crème de la crème of distance running in the women’s 1500m race.
Compatriot and World Indoor champion, Helen Obiri, who had an inauspicious Olympics debut in London, will also feature in an event penned as Ethiopian born Swedish runner, Abebe Aregawi, who outclassed the Doha field in the sparkling 3:56.60 to lose.
Having stunned the field in Doha with a 9:13.75 career best and world lead, Lydia Chepkurui, 27, hopes for a victorious encore in New York with Ethiopia’s perennial bridesmaid Sofia Assefa, the one capable of bringing her down to earth.
– Material sourced from LetsRun.com
