Chepng'etich, Chebet ease through in 1500m heats
Kenya's Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon (right) wins the qualifying round of the women's 1500m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 4, 2017. PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD |
What you need to know:
- Their compatriot, who had just arrived, Judy Kiyeng failed to qualify for the semi-finals due Sunday night.
Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich and Winny Chebet eased through to women’s 1,500m semi-finals as the World Championships got underway on Friday at London's Olympic Stadium.
However, their compatriot, who had just arrived, Judy Kiyeng failed to qualify for the semi-finals due Sunday night.
Chepng’etich, the World 1,500m silver medallist, stayed second until the last lap before taking charge to win the third and last heat in 4:03.09, beating Swede Meraf Bahta in 4:03.23.
“I have had good preparations knowing very well that this will be a highly tactical race,” said Chepng’etich but noted that she will be under pressure to deliver in a final that will most likely have defending champion Genzebe Dibaba. “I know I am a marked girl after my victory at Rio Olympics.”
Chebet, who lost in the semi-finals of the 800m race at the Rio Olympic Games, managed to work herself out from the pack to finish third in 4:03.19 in heat one.
DIBABA WON
World 1,500m champion Genzebe Dibaba from Ethiopia also pulled from behind to win the first heat in 4:02.67 as Olympic and World 800m Caster Semenya came in second in 4:02.84.
“I was still feeling strong even after being boxed. I worked my way out to finish well,” said Chebet, the 2006 World Junior 800m silver medallist. “Coach Ben Ouma told me to ensure I finished in top five to qualify and that is why I didn’t want to push hard.”
Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba (centre) leads South Africa's Caster Semenya (right) during the qualifying round of the women's 1500m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 4, 2017. PHOTO | JEWEL SAMAD | AFP
Chebet said she would like to exorcise the demons that saw her lose in 800m semi-finals at the 2013 World Championships and 2016 Rio Olympic Games. “It’s my desire to reach the finals and the podium too,” said the 2005 World Youth 800m silver medallist.
Kiyeng, who was making her maiden appearance at the World event, said her poor show was as a result of jet lag. She finished 13th in 4:13.65 in the second heat won by Sifan Hassan in 4:08.89.
From left: US athlete Jennifer Simpson, Netherlands' Sifan Hassan, Britain's Laura Muir, Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay compete in the qualifying round of the women's 1500m athletics event at the 2017 IAAF World Championships at the London Stadium in London on August 4, 2017.
“I had only arrived less than 24 hours before the race. I wasn’t just feeling well,” said Kiyeng, the younger sister of World 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng.
