Kenya's Abel Kipsang and Timothy Cheruiyot on Thursday qualified for the finals of the men’s 1500m at the Tokyo Olympics.
Kipsang, competing in his first ever global event, won heat two of the 1500m semi-final in a time of 3:31:65 seconds to break the Olympic record that was set by Noah Ngeny (3:32.07) in Sidney 2000.
20-year-old Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen came in second in a time of 3:32.13.
World champion Cheruiyot (3:33:95)came third in the first semi-final, in a race won by Jake Wightman (3:33.48). USA’s Cole Hocker came in second with a personal best time of 3:33.87.
The third Kenyan in the 1500m semis, Charles Simotwo did not make it through after finishing 6th in heat one in a time of 3:34.61.
After witnessing world champion favorite Cheruiyot scrap through from heat one and Simotwo dropping off, debutant Kipsang knew that he had to fight hard to ensure that he made it to the final. Heat two had many great names that included the red hot Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Britain’s Josh Kerr and Adel Mechaal of Spain.
Kipsang did not want to be boxed, he knew that Ingerbrigsten was hovering in the wings so he had to place himself strategically.
The 24-year-old stayed with the leading pack from the onset and looked comfortable to the last bend, sprinting past the rest of the field to finish ahead of the Norweigian Ingebrigsten who looked very comfortable in second.
The men’s 1500m final will take place on Saturday August 7 at 14:40hrs EAT.
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