M. KisengeWU20: Kithome powers into 400m hurdles final
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 21.08.21. | 15:30
He clocked a 50.9 seconds from Heat 2 to qualify among the fastest.
Peter Kithome has booked a place in the ongoing World Athletics U20 Championships 400m hurdles finals after prevailing in the semi-finals held at the Kasarani Stadium.
Despite finishing third in heat two, Kithome qualified as one of the fastest loser and thus will be a lone ranger as his counterpart Alocias Kipengetich failed to advance.
The diminutive runner's poor execution in clearing the second from last hurdle proved costly as he was overtaken Denis Noveseltsev and Matic Ian Gucek who settled on the top slots.
Kithome who was instrumental in Kenya's qualification to to the 4x400m final in the morning will be glad to have recorded a new personal best of 50.90 seconds.
"I had planned to take an automatic qualification with a top two finish but on the eighth hurlde I landed badly and i felt my knew cap move and my rhythm was affected which slowed me down. It is a little disappointing that I have to wait for the other races to know if I will make it to the final but if I do, I am giving it my all," he said.
Kipengetich finished third in heat three behind Stjepan Jan Cik of Croatia and Oskar Edlund of Sweden who clocked a season beat of 50.70.
"I tried to push for an automatic slot but it was not possible. All the same I am happy with the experience, I have picked my lessons and come out with a PB. I get back to training promising better in the future," he said
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