Rudisha sets Australia allcomers record

Kenyan David Rudisha ran the fastest-ever 800 metres in Australia, but Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop missed out on a placing in the 1500 metres at the Melbourne IAAF Track Classic meet on Thursday.

Rudisha, who became the fourth fastest 800m runner of all time last year (1:42.01), clocked a sizzling one minute 43.15 seconds to destroy a largely home field.

"It's the beginning of the season and I just wanted to run something good," Rudisha told reporters.

"I'm very happy, I expected to do well." Fellow Kenyan Sammy Tangui took up the pacesetting duties before Rudisha powered to the front with 300m remaining and left Australian Ryan Gregson almost three seconds in his wake.

The previous Australian allcomers record of 1:43.97 was also set at Melbourne's Olympic Park by another Kenyan, David Lelei, back in 2000.

Kenyan Kiprop, who was promoted to the gold medal position at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after Bahrain's Rashid Ramzi failed a drug test, was checked early in Thursday's race and never fully recovered.

Australian Jeff Riseley, running at the elite level for the first time since the world championships last August, overpowered New Zealander Nick Willis in the final straight to win in 3:42.70.

Australian Jeremy Roff grabbed second place in 3:43.06 and Olympic silver medallist Willis was third in 3:43.33, one spot ahead of Kiprop (3:43.67), the man who pipped him in the Beijing final.

World and Olympic champion Steve Hooker was at a loss to explain a rare off night after only clearing 5.65m in the pole vault.

The conditions were perfect on a warm, still night, but Hooker was unable to take advantage, bombing out after three straight misses at 5.85m.

"I wanted to minimise my jumps so I would be fresh when I was jumping a bit higher," Hooker said.

"Sometimes that can backfire and tonight it certainly did.

"Up until I was out of the competition, I thought it was going to be a big night."

MELBOURNE, Sunday, AFP