TOKYO 2020: A peerless Rotich, Korir storm to 800m final

The hopes of Kenya retaining the Olympic 800m gold medal are sky-high after the duo of Ferguson Rotich and Emmanuel Korir have punched their way to the final.

Rotich, a world bronze medalist was in a class of his own in the star studded third heat, pulling from the pack with less than one hundred metres from the line to comfortably cruise to victory.

He clocked 1:44.04 to cross the line ahead of world silver medalist and Bosnian Tuka Amel who timed 1:44.53.

The race was not short of drama as Olympic silver medalist Nijel Amos of Botswana tripped American Isaiah Jewett inside the 200m territory where the two crashed down so were their dreams of gracing the final.

Amos, who had been battling recurring injuries in the past, finished a disappointing last at 2:38.49 while Jewett settled for a second from last finish.

As Rotich coasted to sweet victory, Korir on the other hand had to dip his head across the line to seal automatic qualification in heat one as well as console himself after seeing red in the first round of the 400m held in the morning.

The Africa silver medalist had to break sweat to finish second in a tightly contested heat which was clinched by Patryk Dobek of Poland who recorded 1:44.60. Korir crossed the line at 1:44.74 ahead of the lurking Mexican Jesus Lopez.

The two Kenyans will miss the company of Michael Saruni in the final set for Wednesday after he finished sixth in heat two. The United States based athlete who won the trials in Nairobi clocked 1:44.54. Australian Peter Bol won the heat while 2026 silver medalist and American Clayton Murphy came second.