
Wanyonyi, Kibet ease into 800m final
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 21.08.21. | 15:55
Kenyan duo qualify as the two fastest athletes in the race ahead of Sunday's final.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Noah Kibet will be contesting for the two top slots in the World Athletics U20 Championships 800m final after comfortably sailing past the semi-final hurdle here at Kasarani Stadium.
Wanyonyi's big strides were no match as he led from the gun to the lane but had to fend off competition from Mohamed Ali Gouaned of Algeria who stepped up inside the final 200m but was not strong enough to beat the Kenyan.
Wanyonyi clocked 1:46.15 while Gouaned timed 1:47.35. Daniel Wolde of Ethiopia sealed a place in the final afrer finishing third in 1:47.53.
He said he had mastered the style of running from front which he noted helps him dictate the pace throughout the race.
Additionally, the burly runner said he opted to stay upfront as the Algerian had better time that him and thus could not allow him to set the pace.
"Front running is advantageous for us as we dictate what happens in the race. We are up against runners who have better times than me so we have to give it our all in the final. Mohamed Ali, who is the fastest on paper, has tried to push me in the semi and now I know what to expect from him and how to handle
While he was fielding questions from the press, his counterpart Kibet raced from behind to win the second heat and book a place in the final.
Kibet gauged his opponents in the first lap only to unleash his best game when the bell went, taking to the outer lane to overtake the three athletes who were ahead of him.
Jamaican Chevonne Hall desperately tried to hang on the Kenyan but wore off in the final bend and would finish a distant sixth in a personal best of 1:48.50.
Kibet clocked 1:46.47 while Jakub Davidik of Czech Republic was second in 1:46.59.Abdullahi Hassan of Canada sealed the top three after crossing the line in 1:46.89











