WU20: All eyes on Etyang', Keter in 1500m final

The name Kamar Atiang is not new in the Kenyan Athletics scene neither is his partner in the men's 1500m World Under-20 Athletics Championship final, Vincent Keter's. 

With Kenya looking to defend the title won in the last championship in Tampere by George Manangoi, the two are tasked with delivering another possible 1-2 after the success witness in the women's 3000m. 

Etiang heads into the final eager to prove himself after the debacle that saw him miss his chance of representing Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics while Keter comes with a wealth of experience after lining up against and training alongside some of the best runners in the distance including world champion and Olympics silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot. 

The athlete drawn from Rongai Athletics Club, Keter, dictated the pace in his heat clocking 3:42.38 to finish first ahead of Ethiopia's Melkeneh Azize who cruised home in 3:44.81.Abderezak Suleman of Eritrea was third after clocking 3:47.81.

Etyang, on his part, clocked 3:44.75 while Wegene Addisu of Ethiopia came second in the heat at 3:44.86 with Pol Oriach of Spain finishing third after crossing the line at 3:49.32. 

"I am back!" declared Etiang after qualifying for the final. "It will be a battle as I aim for the gold alongside Keter. Nothing can distract me now. I know Kenyans are watching me and I promise to deliver." 

Meawhile Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Noah Kibet will be back on the track in heat one and two respectively of the men's 800m semi final where they are looking to book slots to the final set for Sunday. 

Kibet who had won the Olympics pre-trials held at Nyayo Stadium in May timed 1:46.70 in his heat to win ahead of Jakub Davidik of the Czech Republic who timed 1:47.84 and Hektgem Chenitef of Algeria who qualified with a personal best of 1:49.19.

Wanyonyi who commanded heat three from gun to tape clocked 1:46.51 to win the race ahead of Yanis Meziane of France (1:47.28) and Daniel Wolde of Ethiopia, third after timing 1:48.20.

In the field events, USA-based Kenyan Sid Imani finally gets his chance to prove himself against his peers in the men's high jump set for 15.55 hrs. 

The 18-year old who doubles up as a sprinter booked his ticket to the championship after managing a jump of 2.04m at the trials held at Kasarani last month.

“I have been working on overall strength and flexibility which I have struggled with for a while especially with my back. There is a lot of physicality in high jump so I had to adjust my technique a little bit but was careful not to change too much because you do not want to do that in the lead up to a major competition,” said Imani in a previous interview ahead of the championship. 

Also in action for Kenya in the women's shot put final is Milka Akisa. 

Order of events.

-10,000m walking race/women (10.20 hrs) 

Margret Gati 

-10,000m walking race/men (9: 15 hrs) 

Herrington Wanyonyi 

-4x400m men (11.55 hrs) 

-400m/h (15.00 hrs) 

Peter Kithome- heat two

Alocias Kipngetich- heat 3

-800m men (15.30hrs)

Emmanuel Wanyonyi- heat 1

Noah Kibet -heat 2

-High jump men ( 15.55 hrs ) 

Sid Imani

-1500m men final ( 16.30hrs ) 

Vincent Keter 

Kamar Etyang 

-Shot put women final (16.40 hrs ) 

Milka Akisa

-400m women final ( 17.00 hrs)

Sylvia Chelagat 

-400m men final (17.20 hrs) 

Kennedy Kimeu