Two More Track Marks Are Broken Kenyans Kipketer, Barmasai Lower 800, Steeplechase World Records

Two more world records fell Sunday when Wilson Kipketer, a Kenyan who competes for Denmark, lowered his own 800-meter mark, and Bernard Barmasai of Kenya bettered the 3,000-meter steeplechase standard at the Cologne Grand Prix.

The records came two days after the 5,000 and 10,000 marks were bettered in Brussels, Belgium, and less than two weeks after three were set in Zurich, Switzerland.

Both records set Sunday improved the marks set in Zurich.

Kipketer finished the 800 in 1 minute, 41.11 seconds to lower his record by .13 seconds, after running 1:41.24 in Zurich.

Barmasai surged past fellow Kenyan Moses Kiptanui to shatter the steeplechase mark by more than 3 seconds, clocking 7:55.72.

Another Kenyan, Wilson Boit Kipketer, held the record less than two weeks with a time of 7:59.08.

Pushed by Kenyan David “the rabbit” Kiptoo, who set a perfect pace in the first lap, Kipketer burst ahead and easily beat the mark that had stood for 16 years until he first equaled it earlier this summer, then finally broke it in Zurich.

“I didn’t really come here to run a record, I just wanted to have eight races to qualify for the Grand Prix finals and this was my eighth race. When I am running, I am not thinking of breaking records, I am only thinking of doing my best.”

Ana Fidelia Quirot of Cuba, the world champion, ran the sixth fastest women’s 800-meter time and fastest this year when she clocked 1:54.82.

Olympic champion Donovan Bailey of Canada surged ahead shortly after the start and powered past three Americans to win the 100 meters in 9.99 seconds into a head wind on a warm, muggy day.

American Marion Jones, the 100-meter world champion who became the third fastest woman over the distance in Brussels two days ago with a time of 10.76, clocked 21.93 to win the 200 Sunday.