A week after breaking the Mile world record for the 2nd time in 1981, Seb Coe ran for the European Select team in the 800m at the World Cup in Rome. It was to be his last race of an unbeaten season, and reinforced his ranking as World Number 1, with a crushing defeat of a world class field which included Olympic bronze medallist Kirov, Cruz and Robinson from the USA.
Although the finishing time, 1:46.16, was not fast, his last 200m was run in 24.7 and his last 100m in 12.0! And that was easing up over the last 30m. His kick at the beginning of the home straight pulled him clear of the rest of the field by more than 8m and over 1 second.