OREGON22: Kenya chasing more medals on penultimate race day

On an action-packed day featuring six finals on the penultimate day of the World Athletics Championships, Kenyans are hoping to add to the medal count with representation in two finals.

At 4.10 am (EAT) on Sunday morning, all Kenyans will be glued to their screens as the trio of Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir, Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal and World Under-20 champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi line-up for the 800m final. 

OREGON22: Korir and Wanyonyi eye podium finishes in 800m

Team Kenya is hoping to reclaim the title Kenya last won in London 2015 when the world record holder in the distance David Rudisha reclaimed the title he had won in 2011 in Daegu. 

None of the 2019 medalist in Doha are in the final as defending champion Donavan Brazier was eliminated in the heats while Amel Tuka, the silver medalist who finished sixt at the Tokyo Olympics and Ferguson Rotich, the Olympics silver medalist, are not in Oregon. 

"We are here to represent the country and the order of finish will not matter as long as we give it our all and bag the medals. I have Korir who is an experienced runner and Wanyonyi who is coming up well and I am confident we can all medal," offered Kinyamal. 

OREGON22: Kenyan trio confident of clean sweep in 5000m

Fifteen minutes after the 800m trio walk through the tunnel for the men’s 800m, another trio will be walking out to the track for the women's 5000m battle. 

Margret Chelimo, Gloria Kite and Beatrice Chebet line up in a star-studded field that has among others Sifan Hassan and Eilish McColgan as they look to defend the title won by Hellen Obiri three years ago in Doha. 

Chelimo who has already bagged a bronze medal in the 10, 000m behind and Obiri is looking to upgrade her third place. 

Chebet on her part is keen to continue her winning streak, adding a senior ranks title to her World Under-20 5000m title won in 201u and her World Cross Country title in 2019.