Kenya will have two representatives in the men’s 1500m final on Saturday at Olympics Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Abel Kipsang and Timothy Cheruiyot qualified after finishing first and third in their respective semis to set an explosive final against the field full of elite European athletes.
Kipsang took to the front from the first lap of Semi-Final Two to win in a fast time of 3 minutes and 31.65 seconds, setting a new Olympic record.
The Kenyan youngster broke the Olympic record of 3:32.07 set by another his countryman, Noah Ngeny in 2000.
Kipsang beat Norwegian champion Jacob Ingebrisgtsen and Josh Kerr of Great Britain in 3:32.13 and 3:32.18 as they all qualified for the final together with Spaniard Adel Mechaal and Australia’s Stewart McSweyn who booked the other two automatic qualifications.
Cheruiyot made through from Semi-Final One that claimed the scalp of the third Kenyan in the event, Charles Simotwo.
The Kenya’s World Champion clocked 3:33.95 to finish third behind Britain’s Jake Wightman who won in a time of 3:33.48 with USA’s Cole Hocker taking second in a Personal Best of 3:33.87.
The Kenyan duo will now put a fight for gold from Centrowitz who also made to the final after coming home ninth behind Kipsang in a time of 3:33.69.
Kenya’s Charles Simwoto and his compatriot Timoty Cheruiyot react after men’s 1500m semi-finals during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 5, 2021.Photo Credit:Reuters / Lucy Nicholson
