Chepkirwok rewrites 800m national mark

Jul 06, 2008

ABRAHAM Chepkirwok got a confidence boost ahead of the Beijing Olympics after setting another national record in a space of two months.

By Norman Katende

ABRAHAM Chepkirwok got a confidence boost ahead of the Beijing Olympics after setting another national record in a space of two months.

The 800m runner would probably have run a better time, save that he delayed his kick until eventual winner, South Africa's Mbalueni Mulaudzi started to sprint in the meeting de Madrid IAAF grand prix that took place in Madrid on Saturday. Mulaudzi is a 2004 Olympic Games silver medalist.

Chepkirwok gave chase but reached the tape 0.08seconds behind Mulaudzi, running below one minute 44 seconds for the first time in his career.

The former record stood at 1:44.53 which he clocked in May in Berlin to break Julius Acon's ten-year old record of 1:44.55.

"I hope it will boost his confidence. It is a good time. He has been targeting to run below 11:44 and it is good he has achieved it,” said manager Godfrey Nuwagaba.

But all was not rosy as Justine Bayiga's bid to hit the Beijing Olympic Games qualifying mark fell by the way side.

Bayigga, who needed to run below 52.35 seconds, managed 52.81 over the 400m leaving her only hope of making it to Olympics in the National Championships that are due in a fortnight’s time at Namboole.

“I tried (my best) but looks like it was not my day,” said Bayigga, who has twice beaten Kenya’s Elizabeth Muthoka this season.

Muthoka won the race in a time of 50.81.

Meeting de Madrid
800m results
1. M. Mulaudzi (SA) 1:43.64
2. Chepkirwok (U) 1:43.72
3. A. Ismail (SUD) 1:44.47
Chepkirwok’s previous best
1:44.53, May 2008, Berlin

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