Asbel Kiprop, Elijah Manangoi, Ronald Kwemoi through to 1500m semis
Kenya's Asbel Kiprop (right) competes in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men's 1500m Round 1 at the at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD |
What you need to know:
- Three-time World champion Kiprop burst to the front from the tail of the pack at the bell to win the first Heat in 3 minutes and 38.97 seconds.
- Manangoi, who is the World 1,500m silver medallist, finished second in the second Heat in 3:46.83, losing to defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi from Algeria in 3:46.82.
The 2008 Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop on Tuesday led Elijah Managoi and Ronald Kwemoi in qualifying for the men’s 1,500m semi-finals due Friday morning at the ongoing 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Three-time World champion Kiprop burst to the front from the tail of the pack at the bell to win the first Heat in 3 minutes and 38.97 seconds.
Kiprop edged out Australian Ryan Gregson to second in 3:39.13 as the 2013 World 1,500m bronze medallist, Ayanleh Souleiman from Djibouti wound third in 3:39.25 to all qualify for the final.
Manangoi, who is the World 1,500m silver medallist, finished second in the second Heat in 3:46.83, losing to defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi from Algeria in 3:46.82.
Makhloufi had earlier on won silver in 800m in a race where Kenya’s David Rudisha retained his title.
Kwemoi, who holds the World Junior record (3:28.81), also settled second in Heat 3, clocking 3:38.33 after easing off towards the finishing line to automatically qualify. Jakub Holusa from Czech won the heat in 3:38.31.
