Four Kenyans in 1,500M final in Beijing

Four Kenyans will be fighting against three Americans plus an Algerian, Moroccan, New Zealander, Ethiopian and a British athlete in tomorrow’s 1,500m final following two relatively incident-free semi-finals yesterday.

The first semi was comfortably taken by red-hot favourite Asbel Kiprop, who earned a straight forward passage to the final as the Kenyan star seeks a hat-trick of world titles.

Kiprop was joined by Silas Kiplagat, Elijah Manangoi and Timothy Cheruiyot in the list of finalists.

The race took on-all-too familiar theme with the athletes happy to amble slowly around the track until they engaged in a burn up over the final lap in the race to determine the five automatic qualification berths.

For the record, Belgium’s Pieter-Jan Hannes and two-time World medallist Matt Centrowitz took their turn at the front until the long-limbed Kiprop surged from the back to the front a little after 500m to assume control of the race, albeit at a pedestrian pace.

With 450m remaining, Kiprop kicked for home followed by Turkey’s Ilham Tanui Ozbilen and Great Britain’s 2013 world championships finalist Chris O’Hare. However, there was a momentary cause for concern for 2008 Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis who was a near ten metres down in 11th place at the bell.

In the final lap sprint for home, Kiprop remained in perfect control from O’Hare with Kiprop’s compatriot Kiplagat and Centrowitz also in close contention.

Willis started to make his move down the back straight and was in striking distance as he swung wide to mount his attack down the home straight.

While Kiprop cantered to the heat win a modest 3:43.48, albeit with a 51.56 last lap, to qualify for a record-equalling fifth world championships 1500m final Willis unleashed a blistering late burst to grab second, coming home just 0.09 down.

Wisely, given the slow nature of the first semi-final, the Kenyan duo of Manangoi and Cheruiyot ensured the second semi-final would not be at the same pace with the reward of seven athletes (five automatic and two non-automatic) advancing to the final.

Manangoi running almost stride-for-stride with his countryman went through 800m in 1:59.00 and hit the bell in 2:41.45 with the bronze and gold medallists from the London 2012 Olympic Games, Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider and Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi in close order.

Down the back straight on the final lap, it was Makhloufi who took control of the race.