Kenya: Rudisha Option?

Published by All Africa on December 15, 2013

WORLD 800m record holder, David Rudisha wants to try his hand in 1,500m before he hangs up his athletics spikes.

The king of the two-lap race said his next stop will be the three and half lap race which has been dominated by double world champion, Asbel Kiprop for some years.

He said many people have been asking him to try the 1,500m race and he is still considering it. "Several people have been pressuring me to compete in the race and I have given it a thought and I might try before It before I retire from the track," Rudisha said.

He said having switched from his initial 400m speciality to the current 800m, he sees no reason why he can not take up the 1,500m race. "Everything is possible through as long as one plans well and trains hard. Confidence is the key thing.

"I used to run 400m metres and through encouragement from my coach and friends, I committed myself to the two-lap race and I have made it. I believe with hard work, I will still make a mark in 1,500m," he added. Rudisha said the country needs someone who will take over the 800m when he retires so that Kenya can continue the dominance in the event. His absence at the 14th IAAF World athletics Championships in Moscow saw Kenya lose the title to Ethiopian Mohamed Aman with most of the country's representatives failing to reach the final.