Yusuf Kamel and Yuriy Borzakovskiy secure the automatic qualifying places in the second of the men's 800m semi-finals in Berlin (© Getty Images)
With just the first two in each race guaranteed a spot in the final, the 800m semi-finals are always brutal. But perhaps none as cruel as tonight’s second heat.
At least six in the field were considered solid medal contenders on their best day – freshly-minted 1500m champion and 1:42.79 runner Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain; speedster Asbel Kiprop of Kenya; 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia, reigning World champion Alfred Kirwa Yego, and 2004 Olympic runner-up Mbulaeni Mulaudzi - but a small handful would wind up their visit to the German capital on this soggy evening.
The first to fall was Olympic silver medallist Ismail Ahmed Ismail, who inexplicably stepped aside when he reached the midway point. A half lap later and running on the inside, American Khadevis Robinson pushed Kiprop aside to try and move by, throwing off the Kenyan’s rhythm and essentially knocking him out of the running.
Entering the final bend, it was Borzakovskiy who held the lead, with Yego and Mulaudzi in hot pursuit. That order didn’t change, but the leader did. Kamel casually but powerfully moved from fourth the first over the final 50 metres, and looked particularly confident in the process. Kamel, who father Willy Konchellah won two world titles for Kenya, clocked 1:45.01, with Borzakovskiy second in 1:45.16, with Yego and Mulaudzi trailing along next.
After a distant fourth place finish in the 1500m, Kiprop finished last here.
The first heat, where world leader Abubaker Kaki was a strong favourite, had plenty of drama of its own. The young Sudanese jumped to the early lead, but it didn’t last long. About 200 metres into the race, the World indoor champion was tripped up by Dutchman Bram Som who was shadowing him in the tight pack, causing him to fall backwards onto Som, who tumbled to the track as well. Behind them, Pole Marcin Lewandowski took a spill as well. Lewandowski got back to his feet to finish, Som did as well and limped along for another half lap. But Kaki was out for the count, missing his second successive major global final in as many years. [NOTE: A Jury decision decided that Kaki had tripped himself but that Som and Lewandowski would be allowed to proceed to the final.]
The spill left American champion Nick Symmonds in command of a depleted field and he easily took the victory in 1:45.96, bringing an unanticipated reserve of energy into the final. Kenyan Jackson Kivuva was second in 1:46.32 to move on as well.
In the third heat, Brazilian Fabiano Pecanha took the early lead, taking the field through 400m in 51.54. Moroccan Amine Laalou shadowed the Brazilian closely, and finally made his move for midway through the final turn. He was immediately challenged by Kenyan David Rudisha and Canadian Gary Reed, the 2007 silver medallist. With Laalou on the way to his 1:45.27 victory, Rudisha looked the strongest in his wake, until he was edged near the line by Cuban Yeimar Lopez who clocked 1:45.33. Rudisha was another 0.07 back in 1:45.40, too slow to advance on time, allowing Yego (1:45.22) and Mulaudzi (1:45.26) into Sunday’s final.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
At least six in the field were considered solid medal contenders on their best day – freshly-minted 1500m champion and 1:42.79 runner Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain; speedster Asbel Kiprop of Kenya; 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy of Russia, reigning World champion Alfred Kirwa Yego, and 2004 Olympic runner-up Mbulaeni Mulaudzi - but a small handful would wind up their visit to the German capital on this soggy evening.
The first to fall was Olympic silver medallist Ismail Ahmed Ismail, who inexplicably stepped aside when he reached the midway point. A half lap later and running on the inside, American Khadevis Robinson pushed Kiprop aside to try and move by, throwing off the Kenyan’s rhythm and essentially knocking him out of the running.
Entering the final bend, it was Borzakovskiy who held the lead, with Yego and Mulaudzi in hot pursuit. That order didn’t change, but the leader did. Kamel casually but powerfully moved from fourth the first over the final 50 metres, and looked particularly confident in the process. Kamel, who father Willy Konchellah won two world titles for Kenya, clocked 1:45.01, with Borzakovskiy second in 1:45.16, with Yego and Mulaudzi trailing along next.
After a distant fourth place finish in the 1500m, Kiprop finished last here.
The first heat, where world leader Abubaker Kaki was a strong favourite, had plenty of drama of its own. The young Sudanese jumped to the early lead, but it didn’t last long. About 200 metres into the race, the World indoor champion was tripped up by Dutchman Bram Som who was shadowing him in the tight pack, causing him to fall backwards onto Som, who tumbled to the track as well. Behind them, Pole Marcin Lewandowski took a spill as well. Lewandowski got back to his feet to finish, Som did as well and limped along for another half lap. But Kaki was out for the count, missing his second successive major global final in as many years. [NOTE: A Jury decision decided that Kaki had tripped himself but that Som and Lewandowski would be allowed to proceed to the final.]
The spill left American champion Nick Symmonds in command of a depleted field and he easily took the victory in 1:45.96, bringing an unanticipated reserve of energy into the final. Kenyan Jackson Kivuva was second in 1:46.32 to move on as well.
In the third heat, Brazilian Fabiano Pecanha took the early lead, taking the field through 400m in 51.54. Moroccan Amine Laalou shadowed the Brazilian closely, and finally made his move for midway through the final turn. He was immediately challenged by Kenyan David Rudisha and Canadian Gary Reed, the 2007 silver medallist. With Laalou on the way to his 1:45.27 victory, Rudisha looked the strongest in his wake, until he was edged near the line by Cuban Yeimar Lopez who clocked 1:45.33. Rudisha was another 0.07 back in 1:45.40, too slow to advance on time, allowing Yego (1:45.22) and Mulaudzi (1:45.26) into Sunday’s final.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
