27 Aug 2014

Two names comes to mind among athletics fanatics when one mentions the 800m race: Nijel ‘Zoro’ Amos and David ‘Lekuta’ Rudisha.

The two have in recent times made their names synonymous with the race, and have in the process created a rivalry that the world often looks forward to.


The rivalry would play itself again at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland on tonight (August 28) when the two giants of the 800m come face to face in a final of the diamond league race.


Forget that the two men come from the same continent. A lot will be at stake as they will be fighting for bragging rights and each wants to hoist their countries’ flag very high.
 Both have a score to settle.

Rudisha denied Batswana the singing of their national anthem at the 2012 London Olympics when he scooped a gold medal and broke the world record with a time of 1.40.91 ahead of our own Amos, who had to settle for the silver with 1:43.73 on the clock.


The two African giants met recently at the Glasgow Commonwealth games in Scotland. It was a sweet victory not only for Amos but for Batswana in general, when “the golden boy” came from behind to beat Rudisha to the finish line.


Indeed Amos was the 2014 Commonwealth 800m men’s champion with 1:45.18, while Rudisha this time settled for silver with 1:45.48. 
Truth be told, the Zurich meeting will be a totally different race.

Whoever wins it will be crowned diamond league 800m champion, besides of course the monetary prize and the trophy.

 But all athletics followers would definitely know tonight as to who rules the 800m.

Who is it going to be, the world record holder Lekuta or world leader Zoro? 

 However, Amos told BOPA that he is aware that the Thursday race has attracted a lot of attention. He however, said he treats the race just like all other races he has competed in.
The 800m Commonwealth champion said he is not under any pressure.

“Honestly, I just want to go out there and run. Whether I win or lose, I will still be happy that I got a chance to compete.”
 Amos further indicated that he is happy because he has achieved the goals that he set for himself for the 2014 season.

Therefore, winning the Diamond race will be a bonus.
However, Rudisha was quoted by IAAF as saying the race is going to be tough since all athletes will be available, and some have run faster than him this year, but said he has been doing some good training lately and showed improvements.


He however, conceded that he is not as confident as he has been in previous seasons, “but I am getting better, so I would say there is a 50-50 chance of winning the Diamond League’’, he said.


“This season has been a big challenge for me because of the problems I had last year. I’ve been feeling my way back into shape though I started training very late’’, he said.


Other athletes who will be in the lineup of the 800m race are Ethiopian, Mohammed Aman, Ambroise-Pierre Bosse of France, Rotich Ferguson Cheruiyot, Asbel Kiprop,Timothy Kitum, Sammy Tangui all from Kenya, Adam Kszczot, Marcin Lewadoski from Poland, South African Andre Olivier and Ayanleh Souleiman from Djibouti. Nijel is expected back home on Saturday.


Meanwhile, in another race, Africa’s 400m record holder Isaac “Badman” Makwala will battle it out with other athletes amongst them LaShawn Merritt, Christopher Brown,

Ahmed Youssef Masrahi,Gil Roberts, Laguelin Santos,Wayde Van Nieker. Ends