LONDON — David Rudisha has set a new world record in the men’s 800 metros, following his winning performance at the London Olympic Games on Thursday.
Rudisha ran 1:40.91 to break his own world record on his way to striking the gold medal so many had predicted for him.
“I am very happy. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for for a very long time,” Rudisha said.
“To come here and break the world record is something unbelievable.
“I knew I was well prepared this year so I was just waiting on the perfect moment.”
The Kenyan, who flashed past the first 200m at 23 seconds, went by the first 400m a little over 49 seconds as he began to move away from the field.
With the world record in sight, Rudisha then ran 26.1 on his last half-lap to sealed the win and took a host of other fast timers with him.
Teenager Nijel Amos of Botswana was second in a new world junior record of 1:41.73, while another youngster Timothy Kitum of Kenya clocked a life-time best of 1:42.53 for the bronze.
Duane Solomon just missed the American record after running 1:42.82 fourth place to beat his fellow countryman Nick Symmonds, who also ran a personal best of 1:42.95.
Mohammed Aman set an Ethiopian record of 1:43.20 for sixth place.