16 Jul 2019

Botswana’s 800m runner Nijel ‘Zoro’ Amos dropped a scintillating World Leading (WL) and smashed his Meeting Record (MR) of 1:42.14 clocking a new one of 1:41.89 in Monaco Diamond League meeting on July 12.

The last time 800m runners clock a sub 1:42 was at the London Olympic Games in 2012, when Kenyan David Rudisha claimed the World Record of 1:40.91, while Amos clocked his Personal Best time of 1:41.73.

As a result, Amos still lead the 800m log with 31 points, followed by Kenya’s Ferguson Rotich with 24 points.

During the race, Stade Louis II track felt the presence of the Marobela-born star as he crossed the 400m mark with a time of 48.70 that alone signaled that he was chasing a better time of the season. 

Amos said in an interview after the race, that he was happy that he managed to defend his Monaco Diamond League MR.

Asked if he was chasing the World Record this season, he said the World Record was not his priority but it would be a bonus if he were to clock it.

“I’m not chasing the World Record.

Im just keeping on slowly working my way back to the level I was before I was injured,” he said.

Despite consistently doing well at the Stade Louis II  track, he was quick to point out that it was not about the track, but he was of the view that this time of the year, he was always in good spot in every aspect both mentally and physical health .

“I am happy but it is all possible with the good team I have around me. We are really a great team. They’re patient with me and that’s really gives me comfort,” he said. Track and field analyst, Lentswe Charles said Amos kicked the 800m in an astonishing style as he went with a pace scheduled for a superfast 49.1 seconds.

He said Amos, who was paced by Abda Harun, ended up crossing the 400m mark with 48.70, which is 00.60 milliseconds away from Kenya’s Wilson Kipketer’s World 800m first half fastest split time of 48.10 seconds.

He said the rest of the field were some metres back in a single file formation as Amos kept the pace moving evenly, as he went hard and took the lead pace over from Harun and with some 300m to go, holding on it firmly and worked hard on the back straight .

He said Rotich closed the gap slightly behind towards the 600m mark, but Amos kicked hard with 200m remaining and held it with a powerful sprint altogether.

“It seems like he still has some room for improvement this season since he proved he has reached a high fitness level and his time is superfast.

David Rudisha’s World Record may go under threat and we might see a Sub 1:41 seconds soon from Amos,” he said. Ends