World champion Timothy Cheruiyot has qualified for the semi-final of the men's 1500m at the Tokyo Olympics.
Cheruiyot who was a late inclusion to the Kenyan Olympic team to Tokyo, replacing youngster Kamar Etyang, finished second in heat 1 in a time of 3 minutes 36.01 seconds, just behind winner Ishmael Debjani of Belgium who clocked 3:36.00.
His compatriot Abel Kipsang won heat two in a time of 3 minutes 40.68 seconds while a third Kenyan, Charles Simotwo scapped through the semis despite finishing tenth in heat three in a time of 3 minutes 37.26 seconds
In another race, Helen Syombua, Kenya's sole representative in the women's 400m race at the Tokyo Olympics was unable to proceed to the next stage of competition, putting in a gallant performance to finish fifth in heat five on Tuesday 3 August 2021.
Syombua, the national record holder over the distance with a time of 51.09 seconds returned a time of 52.70 seconds in a race won by Jamaica's Stephenie Ann McPherson in a time of 50.89 seconds.
The 24-year-old did not proceed beyond the heats after clocking a time of 57.07 seconds.
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