Kenya's Pamela Kosgei and Faith Cherotich booked slots in the 3000m steeplechase final after finishing in top two places in their respective heats in the ongoing World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.
Pre-race favourite Kosgei finished second in the first heat in 10.09.89 in race won by Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew in 9:52.65. Uganda’s Loice Chepkwemoi placed third in a personal best time of 10:10.82.
Cherotich won the second heat in 9:38.18 with Ethiopia’s Meseret Yeshaneh second in 9:41.99. Tunisia’s Rihab Dhahiri completed the top three places in the heat in 10:13.49.
In the women’s 800m, Nelly Jepchirchir clocked 2:06.66 to lead Slovenia’s Veronika Sadek (2:07.10) and Finland’s Veera Mattila (2:07.36) to the finish and final..
The second heat was won by Ethiopia’s Ksanet Alem after winning in 2:05.77. Great Britain’s Abigail Ives followed closely in 2:07.35 with Kenya’s Evaline Chepkoech third in 2:07.69.
