31 Aug 2014

The World’s 800 metres sensation, Nigel Amos on August 28 continued his remarkable performance in Switzerland to win the IAAF Diamond League  trophy.

Amos completed a straight double over Kenya’s David Rudisha to finish highest in the 800m race in Zurich. The runner, who also gave the country a first ever Olympic silver medal two years ago, has become the country’s auspicious athlete.

Although the race was tough on paper given that Rudisha entered the competition leading the pack with eight points followed by Amos with six points, the latter fought to the bitter end to finish the race on position one knowing that he will be done and dusted with his Kenyan competitor.

During the race, the 2014 Commonwealth 800 champion as usual started at a low pace, giving his competitors more room to showcase their short lived stamina.

It was only after the last lap bell that Amos showed his real character, as he continued to increase his pace, but Ayanleh Souleiman from Djibouti and Rudisha continued to breathe on his neck.

With only 100 metres left it was now crystal clear that the Marobela born will bring the trophy home, and, at the finish line was Amos with the tongue wag, which is now becoming his trade mark.

Amos clocked 1:43.77, followed by Souleiman with 1:43.93, on position three was 2012 Olympic gold medalist Rudisha with1:43.96, position four was occupied by Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot with 1:44.42, on position five was French Pierre-Ambroise Bosse with 1:44.69, and position 6 was occupied by Marcin Lewandowski with 1:44.75

Amos told BOPA in an interview that he was aware that all eyes were on the 800m race that night, but he resolved to run his own race, without any pressure. He said after the Sweden meet, in which he finished on position five a week ago, he reduced his training programme.

“In Sweden when I finished on position five my body was not responding due to fatigue so I decided to go on mini holiday in Prague just to ease my body to recovery and it did recover very well. Here I did it by winning the 2014 diamond league race,” he said.

Another Botswana, athlete Isaac Makwala finished on position three in the 400 metres Diamond race. Makwala clocked 45:03, and on position one was USA’s LaShawn Merritt with 44:36, followed by his countryman Gil Robers who clocked 44:96.

Makwala said he was happy, because his 2014 performance was something to write home about. He said he had learnt more in all the races he competed in, and racing with some top athletes made him to believe in himself. ENDS