Rudisha relishes racing Bolt in relay Olympic final

Imagine watching two of the top runners in recent times- a sprinting great and a middle distance star racing in the same race?

That may just be a possibility at the London Olympic 4 by 400m finals on August 10 when Kenya’s world 800m-record-holder David Rudisha and Jamaican Usain Bolt go head to head.

Rudisha is looking to emulate his father Daniel- who was part of the 4 by 400m team team that won silver at the 1968 Olympic games-by winning not one but two medals in London. “I want to combine a fast race and a tactical one, “said Rudisha in Doha where he will be running his second 800m this season at Friday’s Diamond League meeting on Friday at the Qatar Sports club.

“Running the relay is about teamwork, “added Rudisha. “Its good for the sport and it would be fun to run against Bolt."

We don’t know how it would go but it would be great for fans,"he added chuckling.

This means that the World 800m champion may have to make the team to the Africa Athletics championships in Benin where the Kenyan relay team will be selected.

On Wednesday Athletics Kenya outlined the Kenya team Olympic selection process ruling out any wild cards insisting that all the London bound runners will be picked based on their performance in their respective races at the scheduled trials.

Considering his fine form in the last two years which saw him shatter the world record twice, claim the African title before he bagged the world title in Daegu last August ,having Rudisha racing along the Jamaican double Olympic champion who is also considering racing the 4 by 400m relay in London alongiside the 100m,200m and the 4 by 100m would undoubtedly spice up the sold out athletics programme.

For now though Rudisha is looking forward to a Friday’s race that has been watered down by the late withdrawal of the World indoor champion Ethiopian Mohammed Aman, the teenager who beat the Kenyan in Milan last year.It was the only race Rudisha had lost in about two years.

“I know Friday’s race here is a challenge but ill race to win,” said Rudisha who’s time of 1:44.33 is the world lead this season.

He is expected to race alongside compatriots former World champion Alfred Kirwa, Richard Kiplagat, David Mutua and Arab Games Champion Abdulrahman Bala of Qatar among others. “It is always good to run with talented men who work hard.”

Compiled by Evelyn Watta in Doha from race organisers

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