Noah Kibet, Emmanuel Korir, Wycliffe Kinyamal and Emmanuel Wanyonyi all qualify for finals of men's 800m

Emmanuel Wanyonyi [Standard]

Tokyo Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir is one step away from qualifying for the finals of the men's 800m at the World Athletics Championship after winning his first heat in Oregon, USA on Thursday morning.

 Korir comfortably won his heat in 1:49.05 ahead of Elhassane Moujahid of Morocco (1:49.27) and Spain's Álvaro De Arriba (1:49.30).

 Korir will be joined by Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Noah Kibet and Wycliffe Kimanyal who also booked their slots in the semi-finals.

Wanyonyi who is the World Under-20 champion finished third in heat three after clocking 1.46.45 to seal his place in the final.

The heat was won by Moroccan Moad Zahafi with France's Gabriel Tual second.

Wycliffe Kimanyal was second in the final heat in 1:45.08 to round off a good outing for Kenyans in the two-lap race.

 Algeria’s Slimane Moula won the heat in 1:44.90, while Morocco’s Abdelati El Guesse was third in 1:45.25.

Noah Kibet finished a disappointing sixth in Heat five after timing 1:45.41 but still made it through as a non-automatic qualifier.