NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 29 – Leonard Bett missed out on a place in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase final at the Tokyo Olympic Games after finishing fifth in his heat, failing to make either the automatic qualification or being one of the fastest six out of the top three.
Abraham Kibiwott easily won heat two while Benjamin Kigen was third in heat three as both sailed through to Monday’s final.
Bett, the 2017 World Under-18 champion paid the price for sticking to the back too long.
Bett ran a dangerous race, sticking out behind the leading pack in most of the race. With two laps to go however, he showed intent bolting to the front but at the bell, he was boxed in the middle of a pack of four.
He tried to get his way out by going back to the outside but at the last hurdle dropped off pace, struggling to pump up his speed in the final 50m but couldn’t get through the top three.
He timed 8:19.62 and his time wasn’t close enough to rank among the best six outside finishers as he ran in the slowest heat of the three.
The heat was won by Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali. So slow was his finishing time of 8:19.00 as it even ranked slower than the six outside finishers.
Meanwhile, Kibiwott easily won his heat two in almost strolling fashion, clocking 8:12.25. Kibiwott didn’t take chances and kept to the front pack throughout the race.
With two laps to go, he was up top of the field. At the bell, Ethiopian Getnet Wale was in the lead, but the Kenyan ensured he powered his way back to the front at the last water jump and adding more space at the final barrier to win the race.
Benjamin Kigen reacts after the steeplechase heats at the Tokyo Olympic Games. PHOTO/Reuters
Compatriot Kigen also progressed after finishing third in Heat One which was won by Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma. So fast was the time that Kigen’s third place finish was faster than Kibiwott’s win in heat two.
The Kenyan clocked 8:10.80 behind winner Girma and Japanese 19-year old Miura Ryuji who ran a new national record of 8:09.92.
Ethiopian Girma took charge of the race in the final three laps and when it seemed that it would be him and Kigen fast and second across the line, Japanese Ryuji powered through after the last hurdle to squeeze into second.
