Rudisha record overshadows Semenya’s return

23 Aug, 2010 11:57 / Updated 14 years ago

A 13-year-old running world record has been smashed in Berlin with Kenyan sensation David Rudisha setting a new best time in the men's 800 meters.

The 21-year-old clocked one minute and 41.09 seconds at the Olympic stadium.

He came up short in the World Championships at the same venue last year, but this time out he looked to have plenty to spare.

Rudisha shaved two hundredths of a second off the previous best mark, which was set by Denmark's Kenyan-born Wilson Kipketer back in 1997.

Rudisha's record seems to have overshadowed Caster Semenya's return to the venue of her biggest success so far.

The South African posted the season's best time in the women's 800 meters in the German capital, and on the same track, which saw her claim the world title last year.

That triumph was followed by gender tests and an eleven-month lay-off for Semenya, who was finally cleared to compete as a woman.

It is her third win since returning to the sport last month.