MOSCOW; RUSSIA: Anthony Chemut and Ferguson Rotich blasted off to a blistering start, qualifying for the 800m semi-finals as the World Championships started here on Saturday.
Anthony Chemut
Chemut, who led Rotich and Jeremiah Mutai in that order during the Kenyan trials last month, finished second in the sixth heat, timing 1:47.13, behind Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti, who won in 1:46.86.
The other qualifier for the semis in the sixth heat was Morocco’s Amine El Manaoui (1:47.15).
Rotich was also second in the fifth heat behind Ethiopia’s Mohammed Aman. Rotioch timed 1:44.93 while Aman, touted here as among the top favourites in the absence of Kenya’s Olympic champion David Rudisha, clocked 1:44.93.
Other athletes who qualified with Rotich were Michael Rimmer of USA (1:45.47), Alexander Rowe of Australia (1:45.96), Antoine Gakeme of Burundi (1:46.70) and Rafith Rodriquez of Colombia (1:46.76).
Kenya’s third challenger to the throne, Jeremiah Kiprotich Mutai finished s eventh in the fourth heat and failed to make the cut.
Nicvk Simmonds of US, also seen as a top favourite, won the fourth heat in 1:46.90 behind Sudanese-born Qatari Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla, who timed 1:46.94. Samir Jama of Morocco was the third qualifier in 1:46.94.
Meanwhile, all the three Kenyans qualified for the 3,000m steeplechase final after impressive performances in their heats.
Milcah Chemos Chweya, who won bronze in Daegu two years ago, won in the first heat with 9:36.16 with compatriot Hyvin Jepkemoi second in 9:36.19. Other quelifiers were Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa (9:36.66), Valentyna Zhudina of Ukraine (9:37.79), Salima Elouali Alami of Morocco (9:39.95) and Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany (9:42.19).
Lidya Chepkurui was second in the second heat after timing 9:24.19 behind Ethiopia’s Etenesh Diro (9:24.02) while her compatriot Hiwot Ayalew, who clocked 9:24.49.
Antje Moldner-Schmidt from Germany was fourth in 9:29.27, while Silvia Danekova of Bulgaria followed in 9:35.66, Ancuta Bobocel from Romania (9:35.78), Eilish Mccolgan from UK (9:35.82, Diana martin from Spain (9:39.22) and Russia’s Natalya Gorchakova. (9:42.12) completed the list of qualifiers.
By Jonathan Komen, The Standard
