• “The problem here is the food, all of it. It's different from what we have in Kenya. However, I am enjoying my stay here in Lima,” he noted.
• In the 3,000m steeplechase, Edmund Serem breezed into the final set for Saturday with a time of 8:46.56, leading Ethiopia’s Hailu Ayalew (8:48.14) and USA’s Wyatt Haughton (8:59.09).
Image: HANDOUT
Josphat Kipkirui is optimistic about securing a podium finish at the World U20 championships in Lima, Peru, after punching his ticket to Saturday's 1,500m final (2:05 am) Kenyan time.
Kipkirui won his heat in Wednesday's qualifying rounds, clocking 3:44.62 to out-pace South Africa’s Johannes Morepe (3:45.10) and Norway’s Hakon Moe Berg (3:45.40).
The first five from each heat automatically qualified for the final.
“The race was good. I believed in myself. My next step in this championship is to win a medal, to be on the podium,” Kipkirui revealed.
Despite the unfamiliar cuisine in Lima, Kipkirui highlighted he was enjoying his stay.
“The problem here is the food, all of it. It's different from what we have in Kenya. However, I am enjoying my stay here in Lima,” he noted.
He will be a lone ranger in the final after compatriot, Collins Koech, finished sixth in his heat, clocking 3:45.15.
Spain’s Alex Pintado (3:44.62), Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa (3:44.83) and Britain’s George Couttie (3:44.84) took the top three spots in the heat.
Kipkirui will seek to defend the title won by Reynold Cheruiyot at the 2022 edition in Cali, Colombia, in 3:35.83.
In the women’s 1,500m, Mariam Kibet and Mary Nyaboke secured spots in Saturday’s final.
Kibet placed fifth in her heat clocking 4:22.53 to trail Britain’s Ava Lloyd (4:21.53), Ethiopia’s Tsige Teshome (4:21.92), Switzerland’s Shirin Kerber (4:22.21) and Australia’s Cleo Richardson (4:22.35).
Nyaboke placed second in her heat in 4:21.72, trailing Ethiopia’s Saron Berhe (4:18.88).
The duo aims to upgrade Brenda Chebet's silver medal from Cali 2022 where she clocked 4:04.64 behind Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom (4:04.27).
In the 3,000m steeplechase,
Edmund Serem and Matthew Kosgei will be in contention for the steeplechase final after coming through their qualifying rounds unscathed.
Serem won his heat in 8:46.56, leading Ethiopia’s Hailu Ayalew (8:48.14) and USA’s Wyatt Haughton (8:59.09) home.
The first eight athletes across the finish line secured automatic slots in the final.
Reflecting on his performance, Serem explained his strategy to ensure he picked up the win.
“I started at the back since I wanted to preserve energy for the finishing kick. I will figure out what strategy to use during the final,” he said.
Kosgei won his heat in 8:24.64 ahead of Ethiopia’s Berihun Moges (8:30.92) and Algeria’s Anes Djayahia (8:39.10).
Serem and Kosgei hope to recapture the title after Emmanuel Wafula and Haron Kibet missed the podium in Cali.
Kenya last won the title in Nairobi in 2021 through Edmund’s elder brother Amos, who clocked 8:30.72 ahead of Ethiopia’s Tedese Takele (8:33.15) and Simon Koech (8:34.79).