David Rudisha yet to confirm Moscow IAAF World Athletics Championships date

Olympic champion David Rudisha (right) and Olympic bronze medallist Timothy Kitum during the AK weekend meeting in Nairobi in May.  [PHOTO: FILE / STANDARD]

By JONATHAN KOMEN

Uncertainty hangs over world 800m record holder David Rudisha’s title defence bid at next month’s 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia.

Rudisha’s condition keep sending shock waves to Athletics Kenya and the nation, pregnant with high expectations in the men’s 800m race.

The 22-year-old Rudisha, who won in New York Diamond League meeting in May, missed the Diamond League meeting in Eugene after he picked up a knee injury.

On Wednesday , his coach Bro Colm O’ Connell, said Rudisha was recovering well, but was still uncertain whether he would be ready for Moscow Worlds.

Bro Colm, an Irish lay missionary, who has been training athletes in Iten since 1976, said: “He is picking on well. But I am not sure if he will heal early enough to resume training for world championships. We will come up with a report on his condition in a week’s time. We will then write to Athletics Kenya and IAAF about it.”

He went on: “It’s good he has a wild card to Moscow and we can only pray he responds well to treatment.”

Rudisha is among Kenyan athletes with a wild card to the World Championships, having won the previous championships in Daegu, South Korea, and a bonus from the Diamond League.

Others are Edna Kiplagat (marathon), Ezekiel Kemboi (3,000m steeplechase), Asbel Kiprop (1,500m) and Milca Chemos (3,000m steeplechase).

With a likely absence of Rudisha, the 800m battle will be wide open at the national trials set for Nyayo National Stadium this Saturday.

“We expect new names in 800m at the trials. That can also be helpful to us since our rivals cannot speculate on our strategy. But we expect Rudisha will heal and join us,” head coach Sammy Rono told FeverPitch.

Job Kinyor, who had a season best of 1:44.24 set in Doha in May, will be up against Olympian Anthony Chemut (1:44.69) and Olympic bronze medalist Timothy Kitum (1:45.16) set in Eugene.

Also in the fray are Jeremiah Mutai (1:43.90), Edwin Meli (1:43.81) and former world champion Alfred Kirwa Yego (1:43.90) personal bests.

Asbel Kiprop’s brilliant 3:31.13 1,500m world-lead will be put to test against Bethwel Birgen (3:31.90) and Benson Saurei (3:32.85).

Former world indoor champion, Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (3:33.05) and world silver medallist Silas Kiplagat (3:33.85) are also itching for the prized ticket to Moscow.

World 800m bronze medalist Janeth Jepkosgei, who has an impressive 1:58.71 season best, need to be at her best to realise her bid for a fourth-straight World Championships ticket.

She will take on her understudy and Africa bronze medalist Eunice Sum (2:00.6), new catch Sela Jepleting (2:01.60 and former World Youth champion Cherono Koech, who has a 1:59.43 personal best.