Kipkirui, Nyaboke & Chemutai through to 1,500m finals at Lima U-20 Worlds

Kipkirui is the only Kenyan finalist in the 1,500m, and will be trying to retain the title last won by Kenyan Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot during the 2022 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

It was a bad day for Collins Koech Kibiwott who finished sixth, thus missing the top five cutline for automatic qualification at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna.

Competing in Heat One, Kipkirui won in 3:44.62 followed by South African Johannes Morepe (3:45.10) and Norwegian Hakon Moe Berg (3:45.40).

Others who qualified from Heat One were Serbian Aldin Catovic who ran his personal best of 3:45.66 and American Trent Mcfarland at 3:47.17.

“My work here is done. Wait for the results in the final,” said a confident Kipkirui.

Kibiwott, who was the pre-race favourite, did not make the cut after finishing sixth in Heat Two at 3:45.15.

Spaniard Alex Pintado won it in (3:44.62), followed by Ethiopian Abdisa Fayisa (3:44.83), Great Britain’s George Cuttie (3:44.84), American Carter Cutting (3:44.95) and the final slot going to New Zealand’s James Mcleay (3:45.12).

In the women's 1,500m race, Nyaboke and Chemutai Kibet  cruised to the final with the former finishing second in 4:21.72, behind Ethiopian Saron Berhe (4:18.88) in Heat Two.

The Form One student at Keberesi Secondary School will be joined by Chemutai, who was fifth in Heat One that was won by Great Britain’s Ava Lloid (4:21.53) with Ethiopian Tsige Teshome (4:21.92) coming second as Switzerland’s Shirin Kerber closed the podium in 4:22.21.

On Thursday, more Kenyans will be on track seeking to advance into other qualifying rounds.

Mercy Chepkemoi, after missing a 5,000m medal, will be up in the 3,000m semifinals.

Chepkemoi, a Form Three student at the Tiloa Secondary School in Nakuru County said that she will be out to redeem her image in her second race at the Championships.

She holds the East Africa Under-20 title in1,500m, and bronze in the 5,000m won last year.

Her counterpart Marion Jepngetich will be in Heat Two with the top eight in each heat automatically qualifying for the final. The heats will be held at 1:00pm Lima time, which is and 9:00pm Kenyan time.

Africa 800m champion Sarah Moraa will follow in the afternoon in the 800m semifinals, and will be the only Kenyan in Heat Three after Janet Jepkemoi missed the cut.

Moraa will be lining up at 3:58pm Lima time and 23:58am Kenyan time. In the two lap race for the men, Kelvin Kimutai Koech will be in Heat One with Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech in Heat Three at 4:20pm Lima time and 12:20am Kenyan time.