Faith Kipyegon sails through 1500m women's semi-finals in Budapest

Budapest 

Saturday 19 August, 2023 

McCreadie Andias 

Triple world record holder Faith Kipyegon effortlessly advanced to the semi finals of the women’s 1500m Heat Two at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Kipyegon looked comfortable, as she led from gun to tape and crossed the finish line in 4:02.62. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji also proved unbeatable as she resiliently fought for her second place as Ireland’s Sarah Healy sealed the podium in 4:03.00.

In Heat One, 2019 Budapest champion and Double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan dominated to win the race in 4:02.92 and qualify for the semi-final eyeing for a treble with Great Britain’s Laura Muir trailing closely to finish second at 4:03:50 as Nikki Hiltz completed the podium.

Edinah Jebitok was the only Kenyan in the race and she managed to finish fourth and qualify for a slot in the semifinal.

Youngster Nelly Chepchirchir also dominated Heat Three with a remarkable win. Competing against some of the greatest 1500m athletes, Chepchirchir stamped authority as she cut the tape in 4:00.87 to directly qualify for the semifinal.

USA’s Sinclair Johnson and Ethiopia’s Birke Haylom finished second and third in the heated race. 

Former World Under-20 1500m champion Purity Chepkirui in Heat Four, failed to live up to the billing as she faded to finish a disappointing seventh and miss out on the semifinal by a whisker. 

Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha who made her mark as a finalist in Oregon the previous summer, led a tight group in the fourth heat recording a 4:03:47as Australia’s Jessica Haul and Ireland’s Ciara Mageean finished second and third at 4:03:50 and 4:03:53 respectively. 

Hassan will return later this evening to take on a very strong field in the women’s 10,000m final to closeout the first day’s schedule with the 1500m semi-finals expected for tigher race. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A