Eyes on Kajuju and Kemboi at World Indoor meet in China

USA's Abdihamid Nur, USA's Paul Chelimo and Kenya's Cornelius Kemboi compete in the men's 5000m heats during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on August 24, 2023. [AFP]

All eyes are on Purity Kajuju Gitonga and Cornelius Kemboi on Saturday afternoon as they take on big shots in the 3000m at the ongoing World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.

Kajuju is facing big names as she looks to secure a podium place in a race that yielded the only medal for Kenya in Glasgow last year, through steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech.

The former Hamburg 10km winner is contending with stars such as world indoor 1500m champion Freweyni Hailu and former world Under-20 1500m champion Birke Haylom, both from Ethiopia as well as Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull of Australia.

Kemboi, an African 5000m bronze medallist will be yearning to bring home a medal in a race that promises to be one of the most competitive in the World Indoor showdown.

In the men's 3000m, Kemboi will be up against two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway.

For Kemboi, glory will come through beating the top charges that also include Ethiopian stars Getret Wale and compatriot BIniam Mehary as well as Morocco's Anas Essayi and Dawit Seare of Eritrea.

On Friday, Ingebrigtsen won Heat 2 in the men's 1500m and booked his place in the final set for Sunday. On Saturday, he will be eyeing his first medal in Nanjing25.

"I am glad to get to the final. I'm trying to stay out of trouble and reduce the risk of falling, so I'm very happy with the result and looking forward to Saturday to fight for the medals. I think it's going to be fun. Until this evening, I was all the way preparing for as much as possible despite the jetlag before going on to the track, but for the world championships, it's definitely worth it," Ingebrigtsen said on Friday.

Festus Lagat, the only man who was doing duty for Kenya in the 1500m, did not qualify for the final after placing third in 4:02.99 behind winner Mariano Carcia (4:02.68) and Portugal's Isaac Nader (4:02.79) in Heat 4, on Friday afternoon.

Lilian Odira cruised into the 800m semi-final after taking second place in Heat 1 on Friday morning.

The Olympian will know whether she will be sailing to the final during the semis on Saturday morning.

"On Saturday, I am expecting a higher level of competition in that everybody was the first and second of the group. I will take it race by race, and we are always racing to win. Whatever happens, it's my will, just be gracious about the outcome. There is a good chance here that all the Americans are here to battle and I'm excited," Nia Akins of the USA who won the women's 800m Heat 4, said.

She ran 2:04.46 to finish second in her heat behind Patricial Silva of Portugal who timed 2:04:44. Habitam Alemu of Ethiopia was third in 2:04.48.

Noah Kibet and Alex Ngeno also booked their positions in the men's 800m semi-final after coming in second Heat 4 and 5 respectively.

RACES FEATURING KENYAN ATHLETES:

AFTERNOON

2:15pm: Women's 3000m final

Athlete: Purity Kajuju Gitonga

2:33pm: Men's 3000m final

Athlete: Cornelius Kemboi

MORNING

7:05am: Women's 800m semi-final

Athlete: Lilian Odira

7:31am: Men's 800m semi-final

Athletes: Noah KIbet and Alex Ngeno