World Athletics Championships: Kipyegon beats strong field to reach semis as relay team misses out
By Joel Sang, August 19, 2023Faith Kipyegon progressed to the 1500m semifinals at the World Athletics Championships after leading in heat two on Saturday, August 19, 2023.
The triple world record holder clocked 4:02.62 to win, as Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second and Sarah Healy of Ireland was third after running 4:03.00.
Meanwhile, in heat one, Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands emerged and won, with the double Olympic champion dominating to win in 4:02.92. Laura Muir of Great Britain was second, with Nikki Hiltz of the USA completing the podium.
Jebitok, Chepchirchir advance
Kenya was represented in heat one by Edinah Jebitok, who finished fourth and qualified for the semis too.
In heat three, Nelly Chepchirchir was dominant, won at 4:00.87, and directly booked a place in the penultimate stage. In second and third places were the USA’s Sinclair Johnson and Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom, respectively.
In the only setback in the 1500m for Kenya, Purity Chepkirui failed to qualify out of heat four as she finished seventh. Hirut Meshesha of Ethiopia won the race, and Jessica Haul of Australia and Ciara Mageean of Ireland ended up taking positions two and three.
Steeplechase ticket
Kenya’s Simon Koech, Abraham Kibiwott, and Leonard Bett booked their places in the 3000m steeplechase final.
Koech was third in heat one of the semis when he ran 8:20.29, while Ethiopia’s Gegnet Wale won the heat in 8:19.99, and Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagnes was second in 8:20.04.
In his respective heat, Kibiwott came in fourth – after stopping the clock at 8:24.31 – but managed to book a place in the final. Uganda’s Leonard Chemutai and World and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali also sailed through as the best five in each heat progressed to the final.
Bett had to finish inside the top five in heat three to book his slot.
Relay team out
Elsewhere, the Kenya 4x400m mixed relay team is out of the competition after failing to get a slot in the semifinals.
The aspirations of the nation were shouldered by Zablon Ekwam, Millicent Ndoro, Wycliffe Kinyamal, and Mercy Oketch, who finished seventh, and that was where their campaign ended.
Team USA were the winners after completing the run in 3:10.41, a world-leading time, and Great Britain finished second in 3:11.19. Belgium sealed the podium finish after coming in third in 3:11.81, which is a season-best.
Finally, Samuel Gathimba finished ninth in the men’s 20-kilometer race walk, finishing ninth in 1:18.34. The Kenyan star was in the leading pack but struggled and trailed toward the final quarter of the race.
Alvaro Martin clocked 1:17.32 to win; Sweden’s Perseus Karlstrom was second in 1:17:39; and Brazil’s Caio Bonfim was third in 1:17:47.