Four Kenyans advance in Day One of World Indoor Championships

Africa Games silver medalist Lilian Odira was among four Kenyans who sailed through their heats on the opening day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.

The 25-year-old, running in Heat One of a closely-contested women’s 800m race, finished second, clocking 2:04.46.

The scramble to the finish line saw four athletes jostle for the top three positions, which guaranteed a place in Saturday’s semifinals.

Portugal’s Patricia Silva took the win in a time of 2:04.44, with Ethiopian Habitam Alemu closing out the top three places in 2:04.48.

2023 African Games silver medalist Vivian Chebet was however knocked out of contention for an Indoor title after finishing one hundredth of a second off a place in the semifinals.

Chebet, competing in her second World Indoor Championships, finished fourth in a season-best time of 2:05.11.

Elsewhere in the men’s 800m, Kenya’s duo of Noah Kibet and Alex Ng’eno booked their places in the semifinals after advancing through their respective heats in the day’s morning session.

Kibet, 20, finished second in Heat Three timing 1:48.31, while Ng’eno clocked 1:48.17 in another second-place finish in Heat Four.

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Kibet is looking to win his second World Indoor title after claiming bronze three years ago in Belgrade.

Collins Kipruto could however not go through to Saturday’s semifinals after finishing last in Heat One, where he clocked 1:50.08.

US-based Susan Ejore cruised through her women’s 1500m heats, timing 4:12.41 in a third-place finish in Heat One.

The 29-year-old will be looking to stop Ethiopia’s domination in the event, with this year’s charge led by 2022 champion Gudaf Tsegay who took the win in Heat One clocking 4:11.87.

In the men’s 1500m, Kenya’s Festus Lagat missed out on a place in the semifinals after finishing third in a time of 4:02.99.

Action continues on Day 2, starting from 0505 EAT.