800m – Another Parade of Champions

The assembled event boasts no fewer than three athletes who have all won the IAAF World Championship over the two-lap-distance.

Kenya’s current World Champion Eunice Sum has already displayed her form this season by winning not only the Doha Diamond League in Qatar but also the World Athletic Challenge in Melbourne, Australia. Sum has a personal best of 1:57.38 and after her surprise win in Moscow last season is now definitely the world no.1 at 800m.

Sum’s training partner Janeth Jepkosgei can almost be regarded as a veteran as she won the Junior Championships in 2002 in Kingston, Jamaica and then became World Champion in Osaka, Japan in 2007.

Her personal best time is 1:56.04, when she won the title in Osaka, and her tactical smartness has her placed adjacent to the leaders in a fast paced contest. Jepkosgei’s career is adorned with medals from major competitions: Olympics, World Championships, Continental Cup, Commonwealth Games and African Championships. Janeth Jepkosgei has maintained a high level of consistency throughout her career and is always a threat in a race of this nature.

A third World Champion also on the start list is South Africa’s Caster Semenya. The 2009 winner from Berlin is a very interesting athlete and has experienced many high and lows in her athletic calling. Winning medals in Olympics and World Championships whilst having injury deprive her at other major events. Semenya had problems during the 2013 season but still managed to register a fast 1:58.92 late in the year. Her personal best is a staggering 1:55.45 and she will be looking to 2014 to extend her medal collection with African Championships and Commonwealth Games both scheduled later this season. As a younger athlete, Semenya was a bold front runner. But as she has matured she has added a tactical awareness to her race repertoire, keeping a careful eye on her main rivals.

Whilst the battle between the championships maybe the highlight of the 800m, there are some other finely credentialed athletes who will attack the race with winning intent. Young US athlete Ajee Wilson was a revelation last season, after stepping out from junior ranks (World Junior Champion in 2012), she made the final in Moscow (6th place ) with a personal best of 1:58.21. Her progression will be particularly interesting in 2014.

Local fans will welcome the return of Norwegian record holder Ingvill Måkestad Bovim who returns to the track after maternity leave. Her personal best is a highly competitive 1:59.82.

A fast pace is assured as Lithuanian Egle Balciunaite will pilot this field through at a decent speed so as to provide a truly memorable finish that will be appreciated by the knowledgeable Bislett crowd.