Obiri on course for glory

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

A mouth-watering clash is expected in the women’s 5,000m final tomorrow as Kenya’s Olympic silver medallist Hellen Obiri faces bronze medallist Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia.

Obiri longs to become Kenya’s second gold medalist after Vivian Cheruiyot’s exploits in Berlin (2009) and Daegu (2011).

Obiri said: “I feel good, I prepared well and I want to do my best on Sunday. “I am in very good form and I am not going to fear anyone. It will be a good race I am sure.

“Maybe I want a fast race for the final. That shows everyone at their best and makes it a better race. If (Almaz) Ayana goes to the front, I will go with her. It will be interesting to see how she responds. I would not run it from the back.”

The heats on Thursday may not have been billed as one of the highlights of the seventh day of the World Championships, but the women’s 5000m heats ended up being far more entertaining than many had expected.

The first heat featured, among others, defending champion Ayana, world leader Obiri, world silver medallist Senbere Teferi, double European champion Yasemin Can, double European indoor champion Laura Muir, African champion Sheila Chepkirui and North American record-holder Shannon Rowbury.

Just five automatic qualifying spots were available in each of the two heats, plus five non-automatic qualifiers.

Obiri went on to win in 14:56.70 with Ayana and Teferi close behind in 14:57.06 and 14:57.23. Krumins and Rowbury were the other automatic qualifiers, both finishing inside 14:58.

Chepkirui, sixth in 14:57.58 also booked a slot in the final.

Australia’s 2012 Olympic champion Sally Pearson’s bid to put behind her two years of injury hell started well on Friday as she coasted into the 100 metres hurdles semi-finals.

The 30-year-old — the 2011 world champion — missed both the 2015 world championships and 2016 Olympics because of serious injuries, losing out on the former after suffering a “bone explosion” in her wrist in a terrible fall at a meet.

The perils of this event were evident in the heats when Trinidadian Deborah John crashed into the fifth obstacle requiring medical attention for over 10 minutes before being fitted with a neck brace and stretchered off the track.

Pearson looked in determined mood right from the outset, dominating her heat to take it in 12.71sec.