Paris Olympics: Kenyan trio turn focus to 1500m semis after clearing first hurdle
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 02.08.24. | 13:28
It was rather an easy qualification for debutant Komen who finished second in Heat 1 behind world champion Josh Kerr of Great Britain
The Kenyan trio of Reynold Kipkorir, Timothy Cheruiyot, and Brian Komen are through to the Paris Olympic Games 1500m semifinals after cruising in Round 1 at the Stade de France.
With the best six in the three heats qualifying for the next round, the three lived up to the expectations and can start thinking of the semis set for Sunday.
Much as the three sailed through, Cheruiyot who doubles up as the reigning Olympic silver medalist nearly missed out after finishing fifth in Heat 2.
The 2019 world champion, was expected to qualify with ease but he, was forced to summon his energies in the closing stages of the race to get his slot in the semis.
He clocked 3:35.39 in a race won by Ethiopian Girma Ermais who punched in the air upon booking a ticket to the semis in 3:35.21.
Ermais is the African Games silver medalist and is making his first appearance in the Summer Games.
It was rather an easy qualification for debutant Komen who finished second in Heat 1 behind world champion Josh Kerr of Great Britain.
Kerr ran a season-best of 3:35.83 and hopes to upgrade the colour of his bronze medal, having finished third in Tokyo, to gold.
The African champion, Komen, timed 3:36.31 to finish ahead of the lurking world bronze medalist Nordas Gilje.
Kipkorir was fourth in Heat 3 that had defending champion and Games record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
The world U20 record holder, Kipkorir, who just like Komen, is making his first appearance in the Games, qualified after timing 3:37.12.
Ingebrigtsen was third in the heat courtesy of the 3:37.04 posted on the clock.
2023 European champion Nillesen Stefan of the Netherlands was the top athlete in the heat having clocked 3:36.77.
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