TWO “HOT LAPS” FOR BISLETT

Rudisha & Kaki look for 70th World Record at famous stadium

The 800m in EXXON Mobil Bislett Games in Oslo is looming not only as a vintage competitive race but as realistic attack on Wilson Kipketer’s long standing World Record of 1.41.11 , which dates back to Cologne in 1997.

At the moment Bislett stadium’s tally of Word Records is 69 , one more & the famous stadium can boasts a unique total of 70 ! The names & the performances reads like a history of the sport & who was to ever dream that this little suburban stadium in Oslo would have such a profound say in the traditions of this world wide sport.

The line up of competitors in the 800m is absolutely outstanding as two of the “young guns” of 800m face up to each other for the first time in 2010 . Both David Rudisha ( Kenya ) & Abubaker Kaki ( Sudan ) will come to the Diamond League meeting in great form but both have opted for completely different preparations .

David Rudisha did not want to worry about racing on the tight indoor circuits & chose to do a training / competition block in Australia with the intention of improving his personal best for 400m . Not only did Rudisha revise his 400m personal best by almost 2 seconds (finishing 3rd in the Sydney meeting with a time of 45.57 ) but also showed he had ample endurance at his disposal by running a brilliant 1.43.15 for 800m in Melbourne .  Since departing Australia in early March, Rudisha returned to Kenya for more intensive training & again showed in Doha two weeks ago that his condition is very sound with a solid 1.43.00 in the windy conditions of Doha.

 
Abubaker Kaki has taken a more traditional approach to this year’s outdoor campaign by again racing successfully & defending his World Indoor 800m title in Doha . Kaki was close to Seb Coe’s Bislett stadium record in 2008 when he surprised the track world with devastating victory in 1.42.76 . In that race as in many others subsequent to that , Kaki has shown a distinct liking for faster run races …… he can get into a quick rhythm & is very strong over the last 200m when the pace has been “on” !

Rudisha also appreciates a fast pace & in Reiti last year , he again demonstrated the pace of his long lopping stride that propelled him up the back straight in Italy , is capable of carrying him to very fast times ( 1.42.01 on that occasion ) , especially armed with the confidence of a very significant  400m personal best time .  

Kenya’s Sammy Tangui will ensure a fast even pace ( under 50 seconds ) & it promises to be a great sight as the two young Africans  charge up the back straight at Bislett , spurred on by the remarkable crowd who understand middle distance World Records .

MP
All the 69 world records can be find under "Exxon Mobil Bislett Games", "Stadium".