Sammy Kitula
18 July 2008
Nairobi — The Kenyan 800 team of Wilfred Bungei, Boaz Lalang' and Alfred Kirwa Yego looks to be very competitive in this wide open event with at least a dozen serious contenders for the medal stand.
With a world leading time of 1:42.69, Abubaker Kaki of Sudan is a double 800m gold medallist at the All Africa Games in July 2007, in Algiers, and the Pan Arab Games in Cairo in November and is considered a formidable opponent.
Other two top opponents are former world 400m semi finalist, Yeiman Lopez of Cuba (1:43.07) and South Africa's Olympic silver medalist, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:43.61).
"I highly respect Kaki and Mbulaeni and we should watch these two closely," said Bungei.
While competing at the recent World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, Kaki ran 1:45.60 to win gold.
"Kaki is at his best, but that won't stop us from unsettling him. I ran with him in the Ostrava Golden Spike Grand Prix and I think we can win in this race," said Boaz Lalang'.
Final bow
It is during this year's Olympic Games where former world indoor 800 metres champion, Bungei hopes to take his final bow, at least, with a gold medal.
The 28-year old Bungei exploded onto the global stage as a teenager when he raced to a silver medal at the 1998 IAAF World Junior Championships in Annecy, France, where he clocked 1:47.53.
The Kapsabet-born star then bagged another silver at the 2001 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Edmonton in 1:44.55, this time as a senior athlete.
After faltering in the 2004 Athens Games finals, Bungei has resolved to have a memorable exit.
"At that time, I was plagued by numerous injuries, which affected my speed. In the finals, I was barely moving, it was really bad," he recalled.
The eldest son in a family of four, led the annual world lists at 800m from 2003 to 2005. His 2002 personal best, 1:42.34 set in 2005 is the fifth fastest in the race's history.
But his hour of glory came in Moscow in 2006 when he finally climbed to the top of the medals podium by clinching the much sought-after gold medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Then there is 19-year old, Lalang', who clocked 1:45.21 to finish a shock second in the 800m final during the national trials held early in the month.
The new kid on the block is rearing to go and has every desire to face Kaki.
At the Grand Prix, Lalang' set his 800m personal best of 1:44.69 to finish third behind Africa champion, David Rudisha (1:44.47) and the Sudanese in a junior record of 1:43.80.
"I still believe that he has so much in the tank and may be waiting to cause a genuine upset in Beijing," national head coach, Julius Kirwa noted on Lalang'.
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