After failing to secure gold in the men’s 3000m final on Monday and the women’s 5000m, Team Kenya will once again have an attempt for a first gold in the men’s 800m on Wednesday afternoon.
In 2012, London and 2016 in Rio de Janeiro Kenya had David Rudisha and he did not disappoint, this time round it will be Emmanuel Korir and Ferguson Rotich on the track to try and maintain what could be a dominance in the race.
Rotich and Korir will however have to be at their best to shrug off the likes of Nigel Amos and Peter Bol of Australia.
The main threat however is Nijel Amos, silver medalist in London 2012. The 27-year-old was reinstated to the final despite finishing last in the semis.
Amos was tripped by USA’s Isahiah Jewett, but the two still managed to walk across the line and won an appeal and was reinstated for Wednesday's race that starts at 3:05pm EAT.
Rotich who is the team leader for Team Kenya in Tokyo has been in top form after winning the heats and semis with ease.
However, Rotich will have to have calm nerves so as to claim gold and alleviate the notion that ‘he always makes it to the finals but doesn't land in the medal brackets.’
During the 2019 World Athletics championships in Doha, Qatar, he won bronze in the race but all he wants is gold this time round.
“I am happy with the way I ran in the semis. I stayed behind as a strategy, because I knew it was a tough group. I am also happy for Emmanuel Korir for making the final. I hope we will perform in the final,” Rotich said on Monday.
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