Kenya makes a clean sweep of 800m at CWG

Boaz Lalang led a Kenyan clean sweep in the men's 800m at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday and is now targetting beating world record-holding countryman David Rudisha.

Lalang, the World Indoor Championships silver medallist, crossed the line in 1:46.60, well off Steve Cram's Commonwealth record, after a powerful sprint to the finish.

He held off teammate Richard Kiplagat who finished second and Abraham Kiplangat who came third.

Lalang said a Kenyan 1-2-3 - the first sweep in the men's 800m in 56 years - was always on the cards in a weakened Commonwealth field.

"It was not so difficult. We were likely to win the medals and I want to congratulate the guys who ran the race," he said.

"We had planned it to finish one-two-three and it worked great. We didn't say before who had to win, we just let it be decided in the race who was the best."

The event though was diminished by Rudisha, who broke the 13-year-old world record twice in August, not being here.

He cited fatigue for not showing up, yet despite this Kenya proved it still has depth in its squad with Lalang, the third fastest man in the world this year, stepping up.

Lalang said it was his dream to smash Rudisha's 1:41.01 world record, but acknowledged that he has his work cut out.

"I need to improve and do more 1,500m training, more mileage together with speedwork," he said.

"When I went to the United States, I found a good trainer who said I would be good in 800m and 1,500m and he helped me a lot. Also, training with Bernard Lagat has improved me a lot."

Silver medallist Kiplagat said their planned worked perfectly.

"Our plan worked. We wanted to control the race and it worked exactly," he said.

"Kenya has always been great in the 800m. Kenya is the best. We wanted to follow in the steps of the runners who raced in the years before us."

Kiplagat, the bronze winner, said it was a magical way to end his first season as a serious contender.

"It's a very good result for me. It's my first year of track. I appreciate the bronze medal," he said.

"We were 1 minute, 42-43 seconds runners and the rest were 1:45-47 runners, so we knew that if we ran a fast first 400m they wouldn't be able to go with us. When we felt them getting close to us we just ran away from them."

Earlier, Kenya's Maureen Maiyo was disqualified in the women's 400metres final after a false start. Nigeria's Muizat Odumosu won gold in the race.