2024 Paris Olympics: Julius Yego advances to final with season’s best

Kenya’s Julius Yego advanced to the final of the men’s javelin at the Paris Olympics after an impressive throw on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

The 2016 Olympics silver medallist managed a season’s best of 85.97m and now will battle for an Olympic medal at the ultimate stage.

In his first attempt, Yego managed a throw of 78.84m before managing 80.75m in the second. He booked a ticket in the final after a final attempt of 85.97m, meaning that he finished second in the heat.

German Julian Weber managed an 87.76m throw to finish ahead of the Kenyan.

Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, with 85.63, was third, as Toni Keranen of Finland sealed the final qualification spot with an 85.27m throw.

Meanwhile, Kenya will be back in the hunt for a gold medal when Timothy Cheruiyot and Brian Komen compete in the 1500m final on Tuesday.

Asbel Kiprop is the last Kenyan to win a gold in the 1500m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and that means Cheruiyot and Komen are under considerable pressure to deliver the final.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway poses a huge danger for the Kenyan duo, as he is not only the defending champion but also a pre-race favourite. Great Britain’s Josh Kerr is another rival that the Kenyan unit must keep a close watch over.

Cheruiyot won a silver medal during the last Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, when Ingebrigtsen emerged as the winner.

Komen, the reigning African Games champion, is debuting in the Olympics and hopes to register remarkable success against a formidable line-up.

The 1500m final will take place at 8:50 EAT.