The 2013 season had been absolutely terrific for Mohammed Aman, and this season had started promisingly enough, with an Indoor World title and wins in Doha and Rome. But recently the wins had stopped coming. In Monaco, during the fastest race of the season, he came third with Bijel Amos winning. At the African Championships it was again Amos that denied him the gold. And during the Diamond league final he finished well down the field.

But in Berlin the Aman of last year emerged again. He had to deal with two fast Polish rivals, Kszczot and Lewandowski, who both ran their fastest race of the season. And in particular he had to overcome a furious final burst from Makhloufi, who ran a new personal best. It was very close on the line, but Aman had the answer to all the questions this time and used an ultimate effort to get past the Algerian.

    Result:
 1  Mohamed Aman           ETH   1:43.52
 2  Taoufik Makhloufi      ALG   1:43.53
 3  Adam Kszczot           POL   1:44.02
 4  Marcin Lewandowski     POL   1:44.03
 5  Timothy Kitum          KEN   1:44.92
 6  Jozef Repcík           SVK   1:45.37
 7  Erik Sowinski          USA   1:46.16
 8  Alfred Kipketer        KEN   1:46.21
 9  Dennis Krüger          GER   1:47.44

The Diamond Race was far from decided before the start in Zürich. No less than seven athletes would win the Race if they could finish first on the night: Rudisha, Amos, Souleiman, Kiprop, Kszczot, Olivier and Aman.

The race followed a surprising pattern - or perhaps not in view of so many athletes trying to win. No one stayed close to pacemaker Tangui, but even more remarkable was that Rudisha was at the back of the field. So it was Bosse who found himself in the lead, followed by Olivier, Kszczot and Amos. Rudisha moved forward on the back straight but Amos, well ahead of him, looked strong and took the lead coming into the final straight. Rudisha tried to get close to Amos, but in vain, and he himself was even caught on the line by the fast finishing Souleiman.

So, what would have been Nijel Amos targets for 2014? Become Commonwealth Champion - check. African Champion - check. Run the fastest time of the year - check. Add winning the Diamond Race to that and it's hard to see how he could possibly have wished for anything more.

    Result:
 1  Nijel Amos             BOT   1:43.77
 2  Ayanleh Souleiman      DJI   1:43.93
 3  David Rudisha          KEN   1:43.96
 4  Ferguson Cheruiyot     KEN   1:44.42
 5  Pierre-Ambroise Bosse  FRA   1:44.69
 6  Marcin Lewandowski     POL   1:44.75
 7  Adam Kszczot           POL   1:44.84
 8  Mohamed Aman           ETH   1:45.01
 9  André Olivier          RSA   1:45.11
10  Timothy Kitum          KEN   1:45.22
11  Asbel Kiprop           KEN   1:45.26

Many felt Pierre-Ambroise Bosse was favourite for this race, but others pointed to the Polish runners, who already have a habit of winning titles. Bosse himself may have felt his wonderful French record earlier this season showed he could outpace his rivals in a very fast race and set a stiff pace.

Winning from the front isn't that easy though, and the Frenchman ran out of steam after 600 m, eventually coming last. Kszczot meanwhile had a great finish and outran everyone. To complete the Polish success Artur Kuciapski finished even faster, winning silver in a new PB, with Mark English taking bronze.

Adam Kszczot's collection of medals is pretty impressive. Two times gold at the European Indoors, and a silver at the World Indoors. Four years ago a bronze at the European Championships and now a gold, surely the best of the lot.

    Result:
 1  Adam Kszczot           POL   1:44.15
 2  Artur Kuciapski        POL   1:44.89
 3  Mark English           IRL   1:45.03
 4  Andreas Bube           DEN   1:45.21
 5  Marcin Lewandowski     POL   1:45.78
 6  Amel Tuka              BIH   1:46.12
 7  Jozef Repcík           SVK   1:46.29
 8  Pierre-Ambroise Bosse  FRA   1:46.55

David Rudisha, it is well known, has only one race plan: win from the front. But his preparation this season had to start late because of last year's injury, and his runs haven't been as majestic as in 2010, 2011 or 2012. A few weeks ago, at the same venue, he looked close to his old self, but the result in Monaco showed he still had some way to go.

And, of course, Nijel Amos was in the race. He was the only one in London 2012 who could almost stay with the Master. He had beaten Rudisha twice already this season. He held the fastest time of the season and looked great in the heats.

So Rudisha tried something new - he ran the first lap relatively slow, intending to accelerate toward the end. All to no avail though. Once Nijel Amos could find some space on the final straight he was unstoppable and sped away to the gold.

He is still my hero Amos commented after the race, pointing to the big man. He is still the man, maybe if I could beat the World Record a few times.... Rudisha, always the gentleman, smiled. He knew the better man had won it on the day.

    Result:
 1  Nijel Amos             BOT   1:45.18
 2  David Rudisha          KEN   1:45.48
 3  André Olivier          RSA   1:46.03
 4  Ferguson Cheruiyot     KEN   1:46.09
 5  Jeff Riseley           AUS   1:46.12
 6  Guy Learmonth          SCO   1:46.69
 7  Michael Rimmer         ENG   1:46.71
 8  Ronald Musagala        UGA   1:47.19
 9  Evans Kipkorir         KEN   1:47.34

Although not a Diamond League event the Monaco 800 m looked like it could be a memorable race and it duly proved so. Rudisha, Amos, Aman, Kaki, Bosse, it was a star studded field, the weather was excellent and when the first lap was completed in under 50 seconds a great race was on the cards.

At 600 m David Rudisha was still leading and looked set for victory, but Nijel Amos found great speed and dashed to the finish line in a new World Lead. Close behind Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, spurred on by a delighted crowd, improved himself by well over a second and beat the twelve year old French record.

The depth of the race was impressive. The frst five all beat the previous world lead. Mohamed Aman left his efforts too late but still ran the third fastest race of his career. He only just pipped Ferguson Cheruiyot, who ran his first 1:42. And Rudisha, well, he had hoped for his first 1:42 of the season. But he could hardly have foreseen that it would only give him fifth place. After all, it was only the second time (after the London 2012 Olympic final) that five athletes went below 1:43 in a single race.

Finally, what about Alex Rowe? His new PB of 1:44.40 might almost go unnoticed. Remarkably though he exactly equalled the Australian record, set as far back as 1968(!!) by Ralph Doubell when he won Olympic gold in Mexico City.

    Result:
 1  Nijel Amos             BOT   1:42.45
 2  Pierre-Ambroise Bosse  FRA   1:42.53
 3  Mohamed Aman           ETH   1:42.83
 4  Ferguson Cheruiyot     KEN   1:42.84
 5  David Rudisha          KEN   1:42.98
 6  Marcin Lewandowski     POL   1:44.24
 7  Alex Rowe              AUS   1:44.40
 8  Andrew Osagie          GBR   1:45.68
 9  Abubaker Kaki          SUD   1:46.90

After a long year of injury David Rudisha worked hard to find his old impressive self again. His first efforts had not been all that convincing. In New York he lacked speed in the final straight and finished way down the pack. And although he won his second race his time was a far cry from the majestic runs he had shown in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

But in Glasgow Rudisha showed that he is pretty close to that sort of running again. He powered away from the field, saw the gap grow to well over two seconds and his time gave him a share of the current world lead.

It has been tough he said after the race. But he had hoped to take the world lead, so he was happy to have done so. And he was looking forward to return here. Soon. For the Commonwealth games in a few weeks time, on this very track. He'll be a firm favourite after this run.

    Result:
 1  David Rudisha          KEN   1:43.34
 2  André Olivier          RSA   1:45.65
 3  Michael Rimmer         GBR   1:45.89
 4  Matthew Centrowitz     USA   1:46.12
 5  Erik Sowinski          USA   1:46.45
 6  Wesley Vázquez         PUR   1:46.47
 7  Mukhtar Mohammed       GBR   1:46.56
 8  Jeremiah Mutai         KEN   1:46.72
 9  Job Kinyor             KEN   1:47.10

Olympic champion and twice World Champion Asbel Kiprop is probably the best 1500 m runner currently around. But his fantastic speed makes him a great 800 m runner as well, as he proceeded to show in Paris.

The race, well paced by Bram Som, started quick, and so Kiprop wasn't to be found among the front runners at the bell. But on the back straight he moved forward fast, leaving many 800 m specialists well behind.

Into the final straight only Nijel Amos was hanging on, but even the winner of 2012 Olympic silver was unable to stay with the tall Kenyan, who finished in a world leading mark as well. Yeimer López finished exceptionally fast and nearly snatched second place from Amos. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse, who delighted the home crowd by running in a French football team shirt, finished a respectable fourth. In this fast race no less than eight runners broke 1:45.

    Result:
 1  Asbel Kiprop           KEN   1:43.34
 2  Nijel Amos             BOT   1:43.70
 3  Yeimer López           CUB   1:43.71
 4  Pierre-Ambroise Bosse  FRA   1:44.23
 5  Ferguson Cheruiyot     KEN   1:44.30
 6  André Olivier          RSA   1:44.42
 7  Marcin Lewandowski     POL   1:44.49
 8  Adam Kszczot           POL   1:44.50
 9  Robert Biwott          KEN   1:45.21
10  Kevin López            ESP   1:47.20
11  Abubaker Kaki          SUD   1:48.38

David Rudisha made his return to active competition in Eugene. The opposition had come out in force to race him: World Champion Mohamed Aman, fresh Kenyan talent Alfred Kipketer, world leader Duane Solomon. A strong European contingent consisting of Bosse, Osagie, Kszczot and Lewandowski. And of course Nijel Amos, winner of Olympic silver, and double World Indoor Champion Abubaker Kaki were also back at international level after a season of injury trouble.

The race was fast and furious. Rudisha looked great until the final straight, when his strength left him. Mohamed Aman sprinted home for a trademark victory, but he couldn't hold Nijel Amos who had an even stronger finish. A very impressive run by the young man from Botswana - Aman had been unbeaten for many races. Behind them Abubaker Kaki showed that he is a force to be reckoned with again as well.

As for Rudisha, despite only finishing 7th he was quietly satified. After the injury had delayed his training running 1"44 was all he had hoped for in this race. The duels between him, Aman, Amos and Kaki could turn out to be spectacular this year.

    Result:
 1  Nijel Amos             BOT   1:43.63
 2  Mohamed Aman           ETH   1:43.99
 3  Abubaker Kaki          SUD   1:44.09
 4  Pierre-Ambroise Bosse  FRA   1:44.44
 5  Adam Kszczot           POL   1:44.65
 6  Marcin Lewandowski     POL   1:44.79
 7  David Rudisha          KEN   1:44.87
 8  Andrew Osagie          GBR   1:45.37
 9  Alfred Kipketer        KEN   1:46.15
10  Duane Solomon          USA   1:47.40

Duane Solomon has a goal this season. He is planning to try and break the long standing American 800 m record. That record, 1:42.60, was set way back in 1985 by Johnny Gray, who coincidentally is currently Duane's trainer. At the London Olympics Duane came quite close, finishing fourth in 1:42.82. That moved him way up on the the all time rankings, and he is now the second fastest American of all time, with just Gray's time to beat.

This year, a season without global championships, is a perfect year to do it. And the start of Solomon's season could hardly have been better. At the Walnut meet he came first in a dazzling 1:43.88, a new track record, and a new world leading mark. Not just that, but his time was some kind of global record as well. It's only some kind of trivia record, but still: never in the long history of the 800 m did any athlete run faster during the month of April.

    Result:
 1  Duane Solomon          USA   1:43.88
 2  Erik Sowinski          USA   1:44.58
 3  Wesley Vázquez         PUR   1:44.64
 4  Brandon McBride        CAN   1:45.35
 5  Edward Kemboi          KEN   1:46.14
 6  Felix Kitur            KEN   1:47.68
 7  Prince Mumba           ZAM   1:48.14
 8  Anthony Romaniw        CAN   1:48.40
 9  Tetlo Emmen            USA   1:48.73

Mohammed Aman once again proved too strong for his opponents. With his trademark dash on the final straight he sprinted to his second World Indoor gold. The Polish athletes, obviously supported by the home crowd, tried all they could, but had yield to the fast Ethiopian.

With Adam Kszczot and Marcin Lewandowski the Polish crowd had two favourites to shout for. And after three laps the Polish chances looked great. Kszczot took the lead and Lewandowski wasn't too far away. Ominously though Aman wasn't far away either. Earlier in the season his fast finish had won him every indoor race he took part in.

Kszczot tried as hard as he could, but Aman once more proved to be the stronger and Kszczot had to settle for silver. Lewandowski seemd to bring home another medal for Poland as he just held off the fast finishing Osagie. But the Briton immediately after the race stated that he had seen Lewandowski stepping inside the track during the final lap. This was confirmed by video footage, so unfortunately for him Lewandowski was disqualified and Osagie was promoted to the bronze position.

Meanwhile Adam Kszczot has built up an impressive collection of Indoor medals. Twice (in 2011 and 2013) he took gold at the European Indoor Championships. In 2010 he managed to pick up a bronze at the World Indoor Championships, and this time he added another silver. Only in 2012 did he (just) miss out on a medal, when he finished fourth.

    Result:
 1. Mohamed Aman           ETH   1:46.40
 2. Adam Kszczot           POL   1:46.76
 3. Andrew Osagie          GBR   1:47.10
 4. André Olivier          RSA   1:47.31
 5. Thijmen Kupers         NED   1:47.74
DQ  Marcin Lewandowski     POL  (1:47.09)

The year 2014 may be young but Mohammed Aman is already running very fast again. After scoring victory in Stockholm he also came first at the Birmingham indoor meeting. His time was so fast that the other athletes will worry how they are ever going to beat him.

After pacemaker Bram Som had done well to cover the first half in 50.26 Aman was left on his own from around 500 m. On the last lap he appeared briefly to run out of steam, but in the last 100 m he found another gear and left the others well behind, finishing in 1:44.52. Indoor that is very quick, and it moves him up to third on the all time world indoor list. Only Wilson Kipketer (twice) and Yuriy Borzakovskiy (four times) have ever run faster.

The athletes in second to fourth place were very fast too. André Olivier just managed to join the select company of athletes who have run inside 1:45 indoors. Andrew Osagie set a new indoor PB as well - he now moves into second place on the all time British list, behind Sebastion Coe's 1983(!) mark. Adam Kszczot came third, and he will wonder whether he can do better in a few weeks time when the World Indoor Championships will be held in his own country.

    Result:
 1. Mohamed Aman           ETH  1:44.52
 2. André Olivier          RSA  1:44.99
 3. Adam Kszczot           POL  1:45.19
 4. Andrew Osagie          GBR  1:45.22
 5. Guy Learmonth          GBR  1:47.43
 6. Jeremiah Mutai         KEN  1:47.46
 7. Mukhtar Mohammed       GBR  1:48.86