NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — World 800-meter champion and record holder David Rudisha clinched a spot on Kenya's Olympic team by winning the final at the national trials Saturday.
Reigning 1,500 Olympic gold medalist Asbel Kiprop had to dig deep to make the London Games.
Rudisha, dominant all season, led from the start to finish in 1 minute, 42.12 seconds at Nyayo National Stadium and earn a trip to his first Olympics. Timothy Kitum and Anthony Chemut also secured spots.
"Nothing is easy. ... I have been working hard and that is why it looks easy when I ran," Rudisha said.
The first three in each event qualified for next month's London Games.
Kiprop, who was awarded gold in Beijing after winner Rashid Ramzi was stripped of his title, finished third in the 1,500 to sneak onto the team behind Silas Kiplagat and Nixon Chepseba. Kiplagat, the 2011 world silver medalist, won in 3:37.60.
Women's 5,000 and 10,000 world champion Vivian Cheruiyot won the 5,000. She had already qualified to run in the longer distance at the 10,000 trials last week.
The 2009 world champion in the 10,000, Linet Masai, failed to qualify in the 5,000. She also failed to qualify in the 10,000 on June 14 in Nairobi, where Cheruiyot, Joyce Chepkurui and Sally Kipyego finished 1-2-3.
Next Story
