Silverio Omari
In Paris, Kenya’s trio of Brian Komen, Timothy Cheruiyot, and Reynold Cheruiyot all advanced to the semifinals of the 1500m at the Paris Olympics after securing spots among the top six in their respective heats at Stade de France.
African champion Brian Komen clocked 3:36.31 to finish second in the first heat behind reigning world champion Josh Kerr of Great Britain, who posted a season’s best time of 3:35.83. Komen led early in the race but tactically dropped to third before making his final push. Kerr surged in the last 200m, setting the stage for a competitive semifinal. “We’ve trained extensively on speed, and I felt good with my kick today. My focus was on securing a top-six finish, regardless of the time. Heats are tactical, and it’s crucial to get it right from the start. The goal is to reach the final and then give it everything,” said Komen, who is making his Olympic debut this year.
Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot finished fifth in heat two with a time of 3:35.39. The heat was won by Ethiopia’s Ermias Girma, who clocked 3:35.21. “Our heat was the fastest and more tactical compared to the others. I didn’t want to expend too much energy early on and made sure to stay close to the leading pack. Everyone is holding back a bit for the semifinals and final, so the results are not surprising,” Cheruiyot commented. “The injury setback was significant, but I’m now in good shape and optimistic about improving on our Tokyo performance.”
Reigning World U-20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot placed fourth in heat three with a time of 3:37.12. The heat was won by Stefan Nillessen of the Netherlands with 3:36.77, while the reigning Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen finished third in 3:37.04.
The men’s 1500m semifinals are scheduled for Sunday, August 4, at 8:10 PM Kenyan time, with the final set for Tuesday at 7:50 PM Kenyan time. Kenya is aiming for its first men’s 1500m title since the 2008 Beijing Games.
Dj Vnyash
