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Kenyans close in on medals with Odira leading charge

Portugal’s Patricia Silva, Kenya’s Lilian Odira, Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi and Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu race in the women’s 800 m - heat one of the World Athletics Indoor Championships at Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park, Nanjing, China .

Photo credit: REUTERS | Issei Kato

By  Bernard Rotich

Reporter

NMG Sport

Kenya’s Lilian Odira, Noah Kibet and Alex Ngeno Kipngetich sailed into the semi-finals of their 800m races at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, Friday.

Odira, the African Athletics Championships women’s 800m silver medallist, who qualified in the first heat second in 2:04.46 in a race won by Portugal’s Patricia Silva is eyeing her first global title.

Odira told Nation Sport on phone from Nanjin that her race had been tactical and she did what she had to do to reach today’s semis.

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“I’m glad to have overcome the first hurdle and I’m looking forward to a better race in the semi-finals. I know I will be able to compete well and head to the final,” said Odira.

In men’s 800, reigning African champion Kipngetich came in second to qualify after timing 1:48.17 with Czech Republic’s Jakub Dudycha winning the race in 1:48.04 while Patryk Sieradzki from Poland crossed the finish line in third position in 1:48.20.

Compatriot Kibet qualified after claiming second spot in the fourth heat in 1:48.31. USA’s Josh Hoey won the race in 1:48.14 while Italy’s Giovanni Lazzro finished third in 1:48.75.

Collins Kipruto was sixth in the second heat stopping the clock at 1:50.08. The race was won by Ugandan Tom Dradriga in 1:49.09.

The women’s semi-finals will be held from 7.05am with Odira featuring in the first heat. The men’s semi-finals will start at 7.31am

In the women’s 1,500m race, Kenya’s Susan Ejore qualified for the final after coming in third in the first heat in 4:12.41. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay won the race in 4:11.87 as USA’s Sinclaire Johnson finished second in 4:12.18.

Ejore will be the only Kenyan in the final tomorrow. Kenya’s other representative Dorcus Ewoi did not make it to Nanjing because of issues with her travel documents. Kenya’s Purity Gitonga will compete in women’s 3,000m final from 2.15pm while Cornelius Kemboi will battle it out in men’s 3,000m final from 2.33pm today.

Kenya is represented by nine athletes, four women and five men in the global event that ends tomorrow.