World U20 Championships: Kenyans sail through to 400m and 800m finals

Peter Kithome and Alocias Kipngetich have both sailed through to the men's 400 metres hurdle at the World Under-20 Athletics Championships being staged at the Moi Sports Complex, Kasarani.

Kipngetich clicked a new season-best despite finishing fourth while Kithome was second behind Russian Denis Novoseltsev, who is competing as an independent athlete.

Russia is currently banned by World Athletics for state-sponsored doping offences.

Kipngetich clocked a new PB of 51.41 in a competitive heat won by Jamaica’s Roshawn Clarke in a time of 50.93.

Kithome, a form three student at St. Valentines High School in Machakos County clocked 51.31 in his heat.

More Kenyan athletes are expected to hunt for semi-final places in the men and women's races, with the Men 5000 metres and Women's 3000 metres finals scheduled for later in the evening.

In the Men’s 800 metres heats, the Kenyan duo of Noah Kibet and Emmanuel Wanyonyi qualified for the final after winning their respective heats. 

Kibet crossed the line in 1:46.70, with Wanyonyi winning his heat in 1:46.51.