Rudisha into 800m final

(L-R) Saudi Arabia's Ali Al-Deraan, Burundi's Antoine Gakeme, Bahrain's Abraham Kipchirchir Rotich, Botswana's Nijel Amos, Kenya's David Lekuta Rudisha and Qatar's Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla compete in the semi-final of the men's 800 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 23, 2015. AFP PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • World record holder David Rudisha, Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich will line up in the final of the two-lap race tomorrow at the ‘Bird’s Nest’ (National Stadium) in Beijing.
  • Kipketer, who clocked 1:44.99 behind Polish Adam Kszczot who won the first semi-final in 1:44.97, said yesterday’s cool weather favoured them and hoped the final would be run under the same conditions. He said he would plan how to tackle the final as a team with his colleagues.
  • Kenya’s medal hopeful in women’s 1,500m, Faith Chepngetich, will be the only Kenyan in the event’s final on Tuesday. Chepngetich clocked 4min,06.88sec behind Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba (4:06.74).

Kenya raised its medal hopes in the ongoing World championships after its three athletes in men’s 800 metres sailed to the final of the event.

World record holder David Rudisha, Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich will line up in the final of the two-lap race tomorrow at the ‘Bird’s Nest’ (National Stadium) in Beijing.

“With three of us in the final, our chances of getting medals are now higher,” said Rotich after finishing second in 1min,44.85sec in the third semi-final race behind Amel Tuka of Bosnia (1:44.84).

“Reaching the final gives me morale, more so when two out of four of our greatest opponents are out,” Rotich said in reference to world champion Mohammed Aman who was disqualified and Diamond League leader Nijel Amos who failed to qualify in the slow semi-final race won by Rudisha in 1:47.70.

Aman, the 2013 Most World champion was disqualified for obstruction that occurred at the 600 metres mark of the race.

Kipketer, who clocked 1:44.99 behind Polish Adam Kszczot who won the first semi-final in 1:44.97, said yesterday’s cool weather favoured them and hoped the final would be run under the same conditions. He said he would plan how to tackle the final as a team with his colleagues.

Rudisha said: “I have been struggling with regaining my speed since I suffered a career-threatening injury but I am happy to be back and not taking anything for granted”.

He said he had no plans of breaking his world record “since I have not prepared for it.” Rudisha, who broke the world record at the 2012 London Olympics won his semi in 1:47.70. Diamond League leader Nijel finished third in 1:47.96 which was not good enough to ensure him of a final berth.

But Tuka, a karateka-turned runner, said he would not focus on anybody in Tuesday’s final.

“I will run my own race as I have been doing since I started running six years ago. I believe my day is coming,” Tuka from Bosnia and Herzegovina said.

He has seen his performance rise after enlisting the services of a coach who coached 2008 Olympic champion Wilfred Bungei of Kenya.

Kenya’s medal hopeful in women’s 1,500m, Faith Chepngetich, will be the only Kenyan in the event’s final on Tuesday. Chepngetich clocked 4min,06.88sec behind Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba (4:06.74).

“The final will be hard but you never know it could be my day,” Chepngetich said. The other Kenyan in the event, Nancy Chepkwemoi, failed to qualify for the final after finishing last in her semi-final race, timing 4:18.15. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands won the semi-final race in 4:15.38.