When the last of two pacemakers left the track with 300m to go in the men’s 1000m it was down to just World Indoor and Junior 800m champion Abubaker Kaki of Sudan, and Youssef Kamel of Bahrain to fight it out for victory.
Any thoughts of a World record had long been discarded by Kaki who could sense there was an opponent still close at hand. It was an exciting run to the line more than anyone had been expecting, with the Sudanese prevailing in 2:13.93, a World Junior record - to go with the one he already holds at the 800m - and a stadium record.
Kamal who had closed within 2 meters of Kaki on the final bend never had the strength to bring his attack completely to bare, finishing runner-up in 2:14.72, a PB.
Kaki’s time was of course the best in the world this year by a large margin (2:16.30 previous best) and leaves him as the seventh fastest of all-time which isn’t bad for someone who only turned 19-years-old on the 21 June.
“It was my first 1000m ever, I did aim at the (World senior) record but it is very hard to beat. I am very satisfied with my performances,” said the winner.
