Three races for Rudisha

RUDISHA: Looking to do well in first Olympics

LONDON: Kenya’s 800 metres world record-holder David Rudisha plans to run no more than three races before the London Olympics, starting with the opening Diamond League meeting in Doha next month.

Rudisha is favourite to add the Olympic title to his world crown won in Daegu last year, However, he told reporters yesterday his style of running from the front made it difficult to sustain his form.

“It’s hard to maintain and always to win races especially with my way of running,” the 23-year-old said in a conference call from his training base in Kenya.

“I don’t think I can do more than three (races) before the Olympics,” added Rudisha, who started as a 400 metres runner before switching to the two-lap race and has not discounted running the relay in London.

“I think I can do that,” he said when asked about taking part in the 4x400 metres.

The London Olympics, which open on July 27, will the first Games for Rudisha after he missed out on Beijing four years ago when he suffered an injury before the Kenyan trials.

His father Daniel won silver at the 1968 Mexico City Games as part of Kenya’s 4x400 metres relay team.

Rudisha also felt he could improve on his world record of 1:41.01 set in August 2010, although he dismissed talk of going under 1:40.

“From my point of view, I still think there’s room for improvement to do under 1:41,” he said.