| A brilliant win in the first of the semi-finals made Konchellah the favourite to repeat his wins of Rome and Tokyo. It seemed that no-one could match the 31 year-old Kenyan’s devastating finish. So it proved: but in the final in Stuggart, he left his effort a liitle too late to secure another gold medal. Konchellah had already worried his supporters with his run in the heats, when he only gained an automatic qualifying spot at the last possible opportunity. In the final, he was content to run near the back while the third-string Kenyan, Ruto, set a pace of 24.80 at 200m and 51.16 at 400m. He was still 5m in front at 600m (1:17.96), while Konchellah was last (1:19.16). D’Urso, who won his semi-final in a personal best, made a big move to try to catch Ruto in the straight. He cut back most of the Kenyan’s lead but Ruto held on for victory. Meanwhile Konchellah had suddenly closed on the leading pair, but could not get past. His final 200m of 25.73 (compared to Ruto 26.75 and D’Urso 26.30) brought him only the bronze medal, and he admitted to overconfidence after the race. |
|
These are the official results of the Men's 800 metres event at the 1993 IAAF World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. There were a total number of 44 participating athletes, with six qualifying heats, three semi-finals and the final held on Tuesday 1993-08-17.
With three Kenyans qualified for the final, word was out that they might send out time qualifier Paul Ruto as the sacrificial lamb to burn out the field. Freddie Williams was the leader from the gun, but just before the break Ruto rushed to the lead and it appeared the strategy was in effect. The rest of the field cooperated and fell in line behind him. Ruto checked back at 200 metres and again at 300 metres, but nobody was challenging. Ruth had a 5 metre lead at the bell in 51.22. William Tanui moved forward early and was the next back through the turn followed by Curtis Robb. Along the backstretch. Williams began a run at Ruto, around Robb followed by Giuseppe D'Urso, Tanui was falling through the field with Billy Konchellah in dead last place, it looked like the Kenyan team strategy was going to blow up. Coming off the final turn, Williams looked like he had set Ruto up and was going to sprint by, but instead Williams could make no forward progress, his body delaying D'Urso and Ruto again had a 2 meter lead. D'Urso chased Ruto down the straightaway but couldn't make any progress. Everybody else in the field sliding further away except Konchellah, still last off the turn but the field tightening, Konchellah moved out to lane 3 to avoid traffic and sprinted past the crowd, chasing D'Urso to the line but not quite getting there in time. Ruto the surprise winner holding the lead virtually the entire race.
|
BRA
RSA
USA
NED
ESP
MRI
PAN
BLR
KEN
KOR
NOR
COD
NEP
ANT
FIN
MDV
GHA
GBR
CHA
JAM
BDI
SUR
ITA
QAT
BOT
NCA
SOM
CAN
BEL
MAR
LBN
GER
