Rudisha lowers 800 WR at Rieti; Carter runs 9.78 to match Gay for fastest 100 this year

Rudisha sets another 800 world record

RIETI, Italy — Kenya’s David Rudisha set a world record in the 800 meters for the second time in a week and Jamaica’s Nesta Carter ran 9.78 seconds in the 100 meters at the Rieti Grand Prix on Sunday, tying American Tyson Gay for the fastest time this year.

Rudisha clocked 1 minute, 41.01 seconds in the two-lap race, shaving 0.08 seconds off the mark he set last weekend in Berlin.

“I came here with the plan of setting a world record, even though I felt tired after the Diamond League races,” Rudisha said. “My plan now is run under 1:41, and I think I can do it.”

Helped by a slight tail wind, Carter used a strong finishing kick to lead an extremely fast field, with seven of the eight entrants clocking 10 seconds or under.

Ryan Bailey of the United States was the runner-up in a personal best 9.88, Mario Forsythe of Jamaica finished third in a personal best 9.95 and Christophe Lemaitre of France crossed fourth in a national record 9.97.

David Oliver of the United States won the 110 hurdles in 13.01, far off Dayron Robles’ world record of 12.87, but fast enough to shave 0.06 seconds off Colin Jackson’s meet record set in 1994.

Oliver, who has run under 13 seconds five times this season, knocked over two hurdles midway through the race.

Rudisha was helped by friend and pacemaker Sammy Tangui, who set a blistering speed for the first 400 meters. Rudisha then sprinted away from the field in the last few hundred meters, crossing 20 meters ahead of his nearest competitor, fellow Kenyan Boaz Kiplagat Lalang, who crossed in 1:42.95.

Wilson Kipketer of Denmark had held the record of 1:41.11 for 13 years.

Rudisha, a 21-year-old former world junior champion, had promised to return to Rieti after bursting onto the senior scene with a then African record of 1:42.01 last year at this meet in central Italy.

“Next year I want to come back and set another world record,” Rudisha said.

It is the eighth world record set at the Raul Guidobaldi stadium, following the then record mark of 9.74 that Asafa Powell ran in the 100 three years ago.

With Powell and current world record holder Usain Bolt (9.58) out injured, Carter and Gay now share the 2010 lead in track’s signature race.

Gay ran 9.78 into a headwind on a wet track in London earlier this month.

Tariku Bekele of Ethiopia won the 3,000 in 7:28.70, with Bernard Lagat of the United States runner-up in 7:29.00. Both were far off Daniel Komen’s world record of 7:20.67, set in 1996.

Olympic silver medalist Sherone Simpson of Jamaica won the women’s 100 in 11.11 and Diamond League winner Wallace Spearmon took the men’s 200 in 19.85.

Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop held off a strong challenge from fellow Kenyan Silas Kiplagat to win the men’s 1,500 in 3:31.78.

Kiprop finished second at the Beijing Games, but moved up to gold when Rashid Ramzi was caught doping.

Kiplagat crossed in 3:31.97.