Three 1,500m athletes for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships have qualified to compete in the finals following their performance in the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon.
Africa Under 18 1,500m gold medalist Josphat Kipkirui, Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka, and Miriam Chemutai Kibet will represent Kenya at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna in Lima, Peru.
Kipkirui will be the sole Kenyan runner in the final, aiming to retain the title last won by Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot in the 2022 World Under 20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.
It was a disappointing day for Collins Koech Kibiwott, who finished 6th in his heat and missed the top five that automatically qualified for the finals.
In heat one, Kipkirui won with a time of 3:44.62, followed by South African Johannes Morepe (3:45.10) and Norwegian Hakon Moe Berg (3:45.40).
Other qualifiers from heat one included Serbian Aldin Catovic, who ran a personal best of 3:45.66, and American Trent Mcfarland with a time of 3:47.17.
“My work here is done. Wait for the results at the final,” Kipkirui said.
Kibiwott, the race favorite, did not make the cut, finishing 6th in heat two with a time of 3:45.15. The heat was won by Spaniard Alex Pintado (3:44.62), followed by Ethiopian Abdisa Fayisa (3:44.83), Great Britain’s George Cuttie (3:44.84), American Carter Cutting (3:44.95), and New Zealand’s James Mcleay, who secured the final slot with a time of 3:45.12.
In the women’s 1,500m, Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka and Miriam Chemutai Kibet both advanced to the finals. Nyaboke secured second place in heat two with a time of 4:21.72, behind Ethiopian Saron Berhe (4:18.88), while American Dylan Mcelhinney finished third (4:21.74).
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Chemutai Kibet, a Form One student at Keberesi Secondary School, finished 5th in heat one, which was won by Great Britain’s Ava Lloyd (4:21.53). Ethiopian Tsige Teshome was second (4:21.92), and Switzerland’s Shirin Kerber took third place (4:22.21).
On Thursday, Kenyans will compete in other qualifying rounds. Mercy Chepkemoi, who missed out on a 5,000m medal, will compete in the 3,000m semifinals. Chepkemoi, a Form Three student at Tiloa Secondary School in Nakuru County, hopes to redeem herself.
She holds the East Africa Under 20 1,500m gold medal and a bronze in the 5,000m from the same event last year. She will compete in heat one, while Marion Jepngetich will race in heat two. The top eight from each heat will advance to the finals.
The heats are scheduled for 1:00 pm Lima time and 9:00 pm Kenya time.
Africa 800m champion Sarah Moraa will also compete in the 800m semifinals later in the afternoon. Moraa, the only Kenyan in heat three following Janet Jepkemoi’s elimination, will run at 3:58 pm Lima time and 11:58 pm Kenya time.
In the men’s 800m, Kelvin Kimutai Koech will lead heat one, with Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech competing in heat three at 4:20 pm Lima time and 12:20 am Kenya time.
– Athletics Kenya
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