Even in the absence of world record holder David Rudisha, the men’s 800m final at the World Championships didn’t disappoint. While, in the 400m final, Wayde van Niekerk’s dominance continued.
Without Rudisha, Bostwana’s Nigel Amos was the strong favourite to take gold, but it was Canada’s Brandon McBride who took the race from the start, leading the field out with a fast opening 200m.
The first lap was a quick 50.76, with Britain’s Kyle Langford under pressure sitting at the back of the field.
Pierre-Ambroise Bosse of France took charge and held on impressively to win gold from Adam Kszczot of Poland. It was a season’s best for the new world champion.
After struggling on the first lap, Langford came down the home straight like a train to finish fourth, crossing the line in 1:45.25.
The 21-year-old missed out on the bronze medal by four hundredths of a second, agonisingly close for Langford, but it is still a new personal best.
Kenya’s Kipyegon Bett finished in third, while favourite Nijel Amos struggled, only finishing fifth.
In the 400m final, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk’s dominance of the distance continued. The Olympic champion and world record holder cruised to gold, crossing the line in 43.98.
Van Niekerk is now one step closer in his quest for a 200m & 400m double.
The 25-year-old competes in the 200m semi-finals on Wednesday evening, hoping to become the first man since Michael Johnson in 1995, to win the double at a World Championships.
In the absence of Van Niekerk’s main challenger Isaac Makwala, Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas took silver, with Qatar’s Abdalelah Haroun sealing bronze.
Going back to the 800m final, Langford’s fourth place finish, also equals Curtis Robb’s 1993 best placed finish for a British male in the 800m at the World Championships.
After coming so close to a world medal, Langford said: It’s bitter sweet, I knew in my head I wanted to medal tonight. I’m fourth in the world now and only 21-years-old.
Meanwhile, Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto showed he’s the king of the steeplechase, with an outstanding last lap to take gold in the 3000m steeplechase final.
USA’s Evan Jager led the field early on, but was overtaken by the Kenya’s Kipruto and Soufiane Elbakkali of Morocco in the final lap.
Elbakkali sealed silver, while Jager, who won the silver medal at the Olympics in Rio, held off the charges from the rest of the field to seal bronze.