Kenyan David Rudisha broke the 800m world record for the second time in a week, setting a new mark of 1min 41.01sec at a meeting in Rieti, Italy yesterday.

It was only the Sunday before last in Berlin that the 21-year-old had set a mark of 1:41.09 to beat Wilson Kipketer’s 13-year-old record by two hundredths of a second.

At Rieti last year, the 2006 world junior champion set an African record as he exploded onto the scene in senior middle distance running.

Although he only reached the semi-finals at the 2009 World Championships, he continued to improve, resulting in his eventually beating the record set by Kipketer.

Having done so, Rudisha had said he could go faster as it was his first attempt to break the record. He was taken through the bell by compatriot pace-setter Sammy Tangui in 48.20 seconds before streaking away to win by almost two seconds from another compatriot Boaz Kiplagat Lalang in second.

American Nick Symmonds, third in 1:43.76, and Britain’s Michael Rimmer, fourth in 1:43.89, both ran personal bests.

Earlier, Jamaican Nesta Carter equalled Tyson Gay’s world leading time of 9.78sec over 100m in a thrilling race that also saw two men set national records, five manage personal bests and two others setting season bests.

Carter’s run broke his own previous best of 9.85 and came from lane seven.

American Ryan Bailey, in second with 9.88 and Jamaican Mario Forsythe, third in 9.95, also achieved personal bests.

France’s Christophe Lemaitre, the first white sprinter to run under 10sec, equalled his French record in the semi-final and then shaved one hundredth of a second off that in the final, finishing fourth in 9.97.

Norway’s Gambia-born sprinter Jaysuma Saidy Ndure also set a national record, finishing seventh in 10.00.