RUDISHA RISES TO OCCASION IN MELBOURNE WITH ALL-COMERS RECORD
By David Monti
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved (used by permission)

Kenya's David Rudisha, the African record holder for 800m, romped to victory at tonight's Melbourne Track Classic, running the fastest-ever two-lapper on Australian soil: 1:43.15.

"I came to Australia expecting to run a fast time," the 20 year-old told Athletics Australia.  "I knew I was going to run 1:43 and that?s what I did.  I did what I came here to do."

Ironically, Rudisha's time surpassed the performance of compatriot David Lelei, who died last month in a car accident in Kenya.  Lelei, who won world titles at both 800m and 1500m, ran 1:43.97 at the Melbourne meet in 2000.

Australia's Ryan Gregson finished three seconds adrift of Rudisha, but his time of 1:46.04 was a personal best and a Commonwealth Games "A" qualifier.

Jeff Riseley didn't run fast in the men's 1500m, but his time of 3:42.70 was good enough to beat both the Olympic gold and silver 1500m medallists, Asbel Kiprop of Kenya and Nick Willis of New Zealand, who finished third and fourth, respectively.

"Any time you beat the Olympic champion and the Olympic silver medallist is pretty phenomenal," said Riseley, 23.  "The slower pace of the race really suited me, I had a bit of an injury and couldn't really do full training until January.  It was a real championship-style race in the end."

Other distance highlights from tonight's meet included Briton Andy Baddeley's 13:20.85 personal best in the 5000m, and Irishwoman Mary Cullen's victory over Lara Tamsett and Nikki Chapple in the women's 5-K.  Cullen clocked 15:27.75, one second up on Tamsett.

Tonight's meet was the first in the 2010 IAAF World Challenge Series.