David Saruni in boys 400m Hurdles on July 13,2017. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Moitalel Mpoke will carry Kenyan hopes of a medal in the 400m hurdles after David Saruni was sensationally disqualified for lane infrigement in the semis yesterday.
Mpoke finished second in Heat 1 in 52.40 seconds with Jamaican, Rovane Williams winning the heat in 51.94 and China’s Daojun Wang placing third in 53.2.
Saruni, who was running in the third heat in lane four had electrified the crowd and went on to win the race but the race orgnisers disqualified him for lane infringement in the final 20om of the race. A distraught Saruni could not believe the outcome when race marshals told him he had been disqualified.
Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos was awarded the race with a time of 52.95 with Franchman Fabien Laroppe second in 53.06. Ding Chenggui was third in 54.02 with Algeria’s Yacine Khedim fourth 1: 54.87.
In boys’ 800m, Japeth Kibiwott and Noah Kiprono advanced to the final.
Kibowott placed second in Heat 2 in 1:50.03 with Ethiopia’s Tolesa Bodena winning the race in a sprint finish in the final 50m in 1:49.37. Algeria’s Abdellah Mouzlib was third in 1:50.56.
Kiprono qualified to the final as one of the fastest losers after struggling and placing fourth in the heat in 1:51.72. Melese Nberet of Ethiopia came from behind in the final 100m to win the heat in 1:51.50 while Moroccan Charaf Zahir was second in 1:51.66.
Stanley Waithaka and Edwrad Zakayo qualified for the final of the 3,000m as the World Under-18 Championships entered its second day at Moi, Kasarani.
Waithaka came home second in Heat 1, clocking 7:59.54 with Selemon Barega of Ethiopia winning the heat in a time of 7:55.73. Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo came home third in 8:08.09 ahead of Eritrea’s Meron Goitom (8:08.88) and Burundi’s Leonce Bukuru (8:16.87), who completed the top five places.
Morocco’s Fouad Messaoudi (8:34.43), Jordan’s Sharif Elatawneh(8:45.59) and Chinese Zelang Tao ( 8:47.23) also qualified for the final. Zakayo was in good form in Heat 2, winning the race in 8:04.85 ahead of Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha (8:05.87) and Eritrea’s Bereket Michael (8:24.54). Another Ethiopian, Titus Kwemoi placed fourth in 8:37.67 while Yemen’s Noor Aldeen was fifth in 8:43.73. Bosnia’s Belmin Mrkanovic was the final qualifier from the heat, posting 8:50.75.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Leah Jeruto clocked 1:01 11 to finish third with South Africa’s Zeney Van Der Welt topping the heat in 59.60 with Gisele Wender of Germany qualifying to the semis after posting 59.76.
Algeria’s Loubna Benhadja (1:01.41),Vietnam’s Le Thi Hong(1:01.73) and Mexican Alejandra Zuluaga (1:02.23) followed in that order. Brazil’s Chayenne Da Silva topped Heat 1 by posting 1:00.05 with Frenchwoman Shana Grebo (1:00.11) and China’s Jiadie Mo (1:00.28) securing semis places after placing second and third.
Jamaican Sanique Walker clinched Heat 3 in 58.74 to reach semis ahead of Lithunia’s Gabija Galvydte (58.94) and Columbian Valeria Cabezas (59.90) respectively.
In the 110m hurdles, Peter Wambua finished distant seventh in Heat 4 four posting 14.86. Qatar’s Saud Al Humaidi won the heat in 13.72 with Romania’s Alin Anton placed second in 14.07. Julian Bogner was third in 14.12.
Jamaica’s De’ Jour Rudell topped Heat1 by posting 13.08 with Denvaughn Whymns of Bahamas second in 13.56. Mexican Carlos Esquer was third in 13.81.