World Under-18: Zakayo, Waithaka cruise into 3000m final

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Zakayo won the second heat, while Mburu was placed second in the first heat ahead of the finals set for Sunday.
Zakayo is confident of clinching gold in the final but remains wary of the threat posed by the Ethiopians.

Kenyans Edward Zakayo and Stanley Mburu Waithaka on Thursday cruised into the final of the boys’ 3,000m on the second day of the World Under-18 Championships at the Moi International Sports Centre Stadium, Kasarani.

Zakayo won the second heat, while Mburu was placed second in the first heat ahead of the finals set for Sunday.

Zakayo staged a gun-to-tape show to time 8:04.85 ahead of Ethiopian Milksesa Mengesha who was placed second with a Personal Best of 8:05.87 as Bereket Michael came home in third place with 8:37.67.

Kenya's Edward Zakayo (right) leads the pack in the 3000m Heat 2 during the IAAF World Under-18 Athletics Championship on July 13, 2017 at Moi international Sports Centre, Kasarani. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Zakayo is confident of clinching gold in the final but remains wary of the threat posed by the Ethiopians.

"It was a good performance but not my best. I hope to be at my best on before the final on Sunday,” he said.

“I have to improve on my speed because the Ethiopians have shown that they can match us,” he added.

Zakayo and Mengesha broke clear of the rest of the pack at 2,000m with the Kenyan just ahead and despite the Ethiopian trying to outsprint him on the final 300 metres, Zakayo held him off to finish in first place to the delight of the home fans.

Waithaka also ran a comfortable race managing to stay behind race winner Selemon Baega, who clocked a personal best of 7:55.73, , with the Kenyan second on 7:59.54 and Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo third 8:08.09.