Mbithe, Cherotich through to final as Tarbei shines

World Youth champion, Willy Tarbei and national junior titleholder, Kipyegon Bett sailed to the men 800m semi finals of the IAAF World Under 20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland this morning.

Tarbei who ran one minute, 48.95 seconds to win the second heat will be joined by Bett who won the fourth in one minute, 50.82 seconds with fellow favourites Mostafa Smaili of Morocco and Tunisian Riadh Chninni who posted the quickest time of the round of one minute, 48.40 seconds also through.

In the women 1500m, Winfred Mbithe and Joyline Cherotich made it to Sunda’s final after winning and finishing second in their preliminary round races.

The qualifying conditions were decidedly tougher in the women’s 1500m although the qualifying prospects of the athletes in the first heat were raised considerably with 3000m bronze medallist Konstanze Klosterhalfen from Germany – a 4:06.91 performer – a late scratch.

With a 62-second last lap, Ethiopia’s Adanech Anbesa won the first heat in 4:15.53 ahead of Kenya’s Cherotich (4:16.41) and Rwanda’s Beatha Nishimwe (4:17.85) while Mbithe won the second heat in 4:12.39 ahead of United States’ Alexa Efraimson (4:13.12) and Ethiopia’s Fantu Worku (4:13.84).

Later on Friday night, World Youth champion, Celliphine Chepteek Chepsol and Betty Chepkemoi Bett will go for a possible 1-2 in the finals of the women 3000m steeplechase at the IAAF World Under 20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland tonight.

Chepsol and Chepkemoi will be seeking to add to the country’s medal tally of two gold and a bronze as Day 4 of the global track and field junior showpiece concludes at the Zawisza Stadium.

Before the water and barriers final, Geoffrey Kiprotich who has been seeded in Lane 3 will be pursuing history in the men 400m final that starts at 9:30pm local time in what could be another fruitful night for Team Kenya.