ELDORET, Kenya (AP) — Olympic champion David Rudisha has been beaten into third place in the 800 meters at the Kenyan trials but the world-record holder was still selected to defend his title in Rio de Janeiro.
Rudisha finished behind Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich on Friday. They took the two automatic places in the event, leaving Rudisha to fill the selectors' wild-card pick. Officials said before the trials they would pick Rudisha no matter what.
Rudisha trailed in fifth at the final turn and was forced wide to get a clear run down the straight. He only just claimed third.