These are the official results of the Men's 800 metres event at the 1987 IAAF World Championships in

Rome, Italy , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (Romulus and Remus, legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg ...

. There were a total number of 45 participating athletes, with six qualifying heats, four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the final held on Tuesday September 1, 1987. In the final

José Luíz Barbosa José Luíz Barbosa, known as Zequinha Barbosa (born May 27, 1961) is a Brazilian former middle-distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres. José participated in 4 Olympic Games: 1984 Los Angeles; 1988 Soul Korea; 1992 Barcelona and 1996 A ...

took the lead from the break, chased primarily by

Billy Konchellah Billy Komintai Konchellah (born 20 October 1961 in Kilgoris, Kenya) is a former 800 m runner who won two World Championship gold medals in Rome 1987 and Tokyo 1991. Career His victory in the 1991 final was unexpected. He sprinted past Paul Ereng ...

and

Faouzi Lahbi Faouzi Lahbi (born 2 March 1960) is a retired Moroccan middle distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres. He competed at the 1983 World Championships, and at the 1984 Olympics he competed in both 800 metres and 1500 metres. He won t ...

up to a 50.59 400 metres. Peter Elliott stayed on the rail slightly off the lead through the first lap joined by

Stephen Ole Marai Stephen Ole Marai (born 11 November 1962) is a Kenyan male former middle-distance runner. He was a finalist in the 800 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics and finished sixth despite Tom McKean catching his foot on the last lap. His ...

on the outside and

Tom McKean Thomas McKean (born 27 October 1963) is a British former middle-distance runner. He is a former world and European indoor 800 metres champion. Outdoors, McKean has medalled twice each at European and Commonwealth level. Athletics career McKean ...

boxed on the inside. Through the penultimate turn, these three tried to move forward, Elliott moving outside to the shoulders of the lead pack, followed by Mara and McKean, but McKean was held inside. By the time they reached the backstretch, McKean tried again to run around Marai, this time he tripped over Marai, injuring himself, eventually falling out the back of the field. Konchellah caught Barbosa at the end of the straightaway and went into the lead. Elliott tried to follow, but Barbosa held him off through the turn. By the end of the turn, the three medalists had separated from the rest of the field, Lahbi the last to hold on. As Konchellah sprinted away to victory, Barbosa and Elliott both started sprinting for home in chase. Barbosa came off the turn a bit wide, leaving room for Elliott to slowly edge his way along the rail and ahead of Barbosa to take the silver.

Medalists

Final

Semi-finals

*Held on Monday 1987-08-31

Quarter-finals

*Held on Sunday 1987-08-30

Qualifying heats

*Held on Saturday 1987-08-29

References