By GILBERT WANDERA
World Youth 800m Champion Leonard Kosencha was the main casualty of the Athletics Kenya mini-trial as he finished last in his heat ending his Olympic ambition.
The 18-year-old has been primed as a heir apparent to the legendary David Rudisha, the World champion, but a tactical error cost him the chance to compete at the main trials tomorrow.
Rudisha, the world 800m record holder (1:41.01), had the easiest of tasks winning in his heat in a time of 1:44.0.
The world champion led from start to finish in the two-lap race and did not appear to struggle and at the end of it, registered the fastest time of the day.
“I’m just glad to have made it to the final. It was not an easy race today, though nobody threatened my superiority. Now I can look forward to Saturday’s final,” said Rudisha.
Though Rudisha had an easy run to victory, it was not so for Commonwealth Games champion Boaz Lalang, who failed to make it among the qualifiers, which ended his Olympic hopes.
Former World champion Alfred Yego also qualified for tomorrow’s final after clocking 1:46.2
The rest of the qualifiers for Saturday’s final are, Anthony Chemut 1:45.3, Nicholas Kiplangat (1:46.4), Timothy Kitum (1:44.3), Abraham Chirchir (1:45.00), Richard Kiplagat (1:45.9) and Job Kinyor (1:45.6).
World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop and World silver medallist Silas Kiplagat will renew their rivalry on Saturday, the second time the duo will be meeting in as many months. Kiplagat had beaten Kiprop in Doha Diamond League in May.
Kiprop won his heat in a time of 3:49.1 while Kiplagat finished second in his heat clocking 3:44.3. Nixon Chepseba had finished first in a time of 3:44.1. Kiprop’s heat was the slower of the two and the world champion said his major concern was making it to tomorrow’s final.
