World 800m record holder David Rudisha is in line to reclaim his title at the IAAF World Athletics Championships two-lap race final at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing, China, tomorrow afternoon.
Rudisha’s quest has been boosted after defending champion Aman Mohammed of Ethiopia and Botswana’s Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos failed to make it out of the semi-finals.
Rudisha, whose form dipped severely this season, will anchor Kenya’s quest alongside world junior champion Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich, fourth at the Commonwealth Games’ medal chase.
But before then, there is an expected thrilling battle in men’s 3,000m steeplechase and women’s 10,000m final today, which could improve Kenya’s medal standing at the championships.
The quartet of Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto, Jairus Kipchoge Birech and Conseslus Kipruto are expected to strike medals when called upon this afternoon at 4:15pm.
Double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot will lead US-based Betsy Saina and Sally Kipyego in 10,000m.
It was a good afternoon for Kenyans as Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich battled Ethiopia’s world 1,500m record holder Genzebe Dibaba to make it to final scheduled for tomorrow at 3:35pm.
Boniface Mucheru and Nicholas Bett also warmed the hearts of Kenyan fans as they made it to the 400m hurdles final set for tomorrow at 3:25pm.
It was particularly a sweet outcome for Rudisha, who seemed to have sharpened his speed as he easily won the semifinal heat in 1:47.70 ahead of Musaeb Abdulrahman Ball of Qatar (1:47.93), Nijel Amos (1:47.96) and Konstantin Tolokonnikov (1:48.32) of Russia.
“It was an impressive performance given that I have just returned from injury. If I could control the race from start to the end, then that shows there is some improvement. We hope to excel in the finals,” Rudisha said from Beijing.
Alfred Kipketer, who completed Form Four at Kosirai High School in Nandi County last year, finished second in 1:44.99 in a rather fast semi-final heat, coming behind Adam Kszczot (1:44.97) of Poland. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (1:45.02) of France qualified as the fastest loser.
Kipketer, who has won World Youth and World Junior gold medals, now longs to go one better. He said via telephone: “I need a medal in the senior category. I am happy that the weather conditions worked to my advantage and hope to witness the same in the final.”
Rotich, who beat Rudisha in the national trials and was disqualified in 2013 Moscow Worlds, finished second in 1:44.84 behind Amel Tuka (1:44.85) of Bahrain.
Fireworks await in women’s 1,500m when Commonwealth Games champion Faith Chepng’etich takes on Ethiopia’s track assassin Genzebe Dibaba in the final tomorrow afternoon.
Chepng’etich, who comes from Ndabibit Village in Kuresoi Constituency, finished in 4:06.88 behind Dibaba (4:06.74) in the semifinals.
