Women's 1500m: Chepngetich Kipyegon and Winny Chebet advance

Kenya's Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon

Kenya's Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon wins the qualifying round of the women's 1500m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London.

Kenya’s Winny Chebet also qualified after finishing third in the first heat in 4:03.19. Ethiopia's defending champion Genzebe Dibaba showed the way by winning the first heat in a sharp four minutes 2.67 seconds but jogging in just behind her was Caster Semenya, the South African Olympic 800m champion who is attempting the middle- distance double in London.

Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba (centre) leads South Africa's Caster Semenya (right) during the qualifying round of the women's 1500m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 4, 2017. PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD | AFP

Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, owner of the three fastest times this season, won a slower second heat ahead of 2011 world champion Jenny Simpson of the United States but remains favourite, though Kenya’s Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon showed she will be in the mix with a strong run to take the third heat.

There was plenty for the home fans to cheer too with four Britons progressing – Jessica Judd, Laura Muir, Laura Weightman and, with a personal best to snatch a fastest loser slot, Sarah McDonald.

The semi-finals take place on Saturday with the final on Monday.