Commonwealth Games: Kinyamal defends 800m title in spectacular fashion

The 2018 Commonwealth Games men's 800m champion in Gold Coast Wycliffe Kinyamal is the champion in Birmingham, achieving a rare feat of becoming the first back-to-back winner in the distance. 

Kinyamal, who was making his debut for team Kenya in Gold Coast overcame a disappointing performance in Oregon at the World Championships where he finished last to lead from gun to tape in Birmingham for gold. 

Kinyamal went ahead at the start of the race and controlled the pace with Australian Peter Bol staying on his shoulder as they took the timed 55.5 seconds in the first lap. 

The Kenyan waited until the 150m mark in the second lap before injecting some pace into the race and Bol was right there with him until the 200m mark where he begun opening a gap. 

At the final bend, the first two medals had been decided and it was up to Kinyamal to outsprint the Australian. He held perfectly for 1:47.52 for the much needed victory to award a season that has been affected by injury. 

Bol was second in 1:47.66 as home runner Ben Pattison won the battle for bronze in 1:48.25.

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