Joseph Deng Breaks 50 Year Old Australian 800m Track Record
20-year-old Joseph Deng broke the long-standing Australian 800m record on Friday night in Monaco. The young Joseph finished 7th in a pulsating race in 1.44.21mins breaking the previous record of 1:44.40. The record was set by Gold medallist Ralph Doubell at 1986 Mexico Olympics. The record was equalled by Alex Rowe at the Diamond League in Monte Carlo.
Joseph Deng highlighted that he was aware that the race was going to be very tough. The advice and the courage he was given by his coach Justin Rinaldi boosted him. “I knew it was going to be a fast race coach Justin Rinaldi said to stick in the top five, top six positions and see what happens”.
Deng said this is his last race of the season and he can’t wait to be back in Australia soon. “This is my last race of the season, I’m so done now.
“I’m back in Australia soon”.
What You Need to Know About Joseph Deng
Joseph Deng was born in 1998 in a Kenyan refugee camp. His mother and the rest of the family fled their native land due to a fierce political war in Sudan.
The Deng family settled in Queensland Northeast of Australia in 2004. That is when Joseph pursued a career in athletics and he showed a huge promise at a very young age.
He was later controversially selected to run at the Golden Coast Commonwealth games in April. Even though he did not manage to qualify for the finals but he silenced the doubters and critics by finishing 7th.
Joseph Deng and his training partner of the Sudanese origin Peter Bol have been chasing the 800m record in Europe. Bol also managed to finish 9th in Monaco with a record of 1:46.64.
The Monaco race is the fourth time in 47 days that Joseph Deng had curved in the 1:45 mark better than any Australian athlete.
