Rudisha hopes to put smile on Kenyan fans

World 800m champion David Rudisha. [Photo:Standard]

By Omulo Okoth in London

After frustrating days for Kenyans who expected that by Sunday there would already be three gold medals in the bag and as much silver and bronze medals, the tide is expected to swing favourably from Monday.

World champion and record holder over the 800m David Rudisha hopes to become only the fourth Kenyan to win the two-lap gold at the globe’s greatest sporting competition.

The race starts at 12.50pm Monday with Rudisha leading less heralded Anthony Chemut and Timothy Kitum in the event that will feature six heats.

After Wilson Kiprugut arap Chumo’s bronze in Tokyo in 1964, and silver in 1968 in Mexico, Kenyans had to wait until Seoul 20 years later for Paul Ereng to reclaim the throne.

William Tanui ensured Kenya retained the title in Barcelona four years later and only Wilfred Bungei added the glitter in Beijing in 2008. Rudisha is widely expected to extend Kenya’s hold on the race, factors remaining constant.

In an Olympics, anything can happen as was the case with 1,500m runner Nixon Chepseba, who was only helped by a successful appeal by Team Kenya officials after tripping and finishing his qualifying heat outside the qualifiers on Friday.

Completely unlike Ereng more than 20 years before him, Rudisha goes to the front from start. No less a person than IAAF President Lamine Diack predicted here that Rudisha is capable of breaking his own 1:41.01 world record.

After the men’s 800m, Hellen Obiri, Faith Chepn’getich and Eunice Sum will also want to ensure the women’s 1,500m gold, surprisingly won by Nancy Jebet Lagat in Beijing four years ago, remains in the Kenya vault. The three-heat race begins is at 1.45pm.

Then world bronze medalist Milkah Chemos and African champion Mercy Njoroge will wind up the programme Monday night in the 3,000m steeplechase final.