Kipyegon leads Kenyan trio into 1,500m final at Tokyo Worlds

Kenya’s strength in middle-distance running was once again on display as Chepchirchir won semi-final 2 with an impressive time of 4:06.86, edging Australia’s Jessica Hull by just 0.01 seconds. 

Kipyegon showed her class once again, winning her semi-final with a time of 4:00.34, comfortably booking her place in the final. 

Right behind her was fellow Kenyan Ewoi, who clocked an impressive 4:00.65 to secure second place ensuring a place in the final.

The 1,500m final is now set to be one of the most anticipated races in Tokyo, with all eyes on Kipyegon’s title defense and the possible rise of young stars Chepchirchir and  Ewoi.

The Kenyan trio will now be among the top contenders in what promises to be a thrilling final. 

Freweyni Hailu (ETH) and Sinclaire Johnson (USA) also qualified among the established athletes over the distance.

However, it was not all smiles for Kenya in the men's,000m final, and in the men's 100m.

Ishmael Rokitto Kipkurui who trains in the US exhibited a remarkable effort but fell short, finishing fourth while Edwin Kurgat settled for seventh.

In what turned out to be a dramatic and tightly contested final, France’s Jimmy Gressier shocked the world by clinching gold in 28:55.77, holding off a strong challenge from Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha, who claimed silver in 28:55.83.

Sweden’s Andreas Almgren completed the podium with bronze in 28:56.02.

Kipkurui, despite a brave push in the final laps, missed out on the medals by a heartbreaking margin, clocking 28:56.48 - just outside the bronze.

Ethiopia managed a silver, but it was Europe’s Gressier who stole the spotlight in a race that left fans stunned, becoming the first European to win it since Somali-born Briton Mo Farah did so in 2017.

Earlier on, Kenya’s sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala failed to feature in the men’s 100m final after finishing fifth in his semi-final, in 10.09, despite a strong start.

The final was later won by Jamaican Oblique Saville to become the new world champion, ahead of compatriot Kishane Thompson and American Noah Lyles.