Rudisha on Kenya's team for worlds despite defeat at trials

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Olympic champion David Rudisha is on Kenya's team for the athletics world championships in Beijing this month despite another defeat, this time at the national trials.

The world record-holder in the 800 meters was beaten by Ferguson Rotich at the trials on Saturday in a race watched by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

It followed back-to-back defeats for Rudisha at Diamond League meets to rival and Olympic silver medalist Nijel Amos of Botswana.

At the trials, Rudisha led for 600 meters in the final before being run down by Rotich to finish second, similar to his two losses to Amos.

''I'm struggling in the last 100 meters and that is what I will work on,'' Rudisha said. ''The three weeks I have ahead of the world championships are enough. I'm 90 percent fit.''

Rudisha clocked 1 minute, 43.89 seconds, around three seconds slower than the world record he set at the 2012 London Olympics. Rudisha has battled a series of injuries since his devastating victory in London and missed the 2013 world championships in Moscow.

His last defeat on Kenyan soil over 800 meters was at the junior trials in 2006.

Kenya has selected a 46-member team for the worlds in China, which run Aug. 22-30.

Also on the team are 1,500 meters two-time defending world champion Asbel Kiprop, 800-meter world champ Eunice Sum, and two-time Olympic champion steeplechaser Ezekiel Kemboi.

Kemboi has won three straight world titles in the 3,000 meters steeplechase and is aiming to be the first man to win four straight golds in the event.