Isaac Songok had obviously decided that he was taking no backseat ride as he set out on the 1500 metres final.
The diminutive Kenya kicked into top gear from the gun and headed out in front, where he stayed throughout the race at a stunning pace, despite the blistering heat and humidity (38C & 65% humidity).
Through 400 metres in 54.99, and 800 metres in 1:55.82 (1:00.83 second 400), Songok refused to relinquish the lead, pushing harder to go through 1200 in 2:55.58 and accelerating from that point to pull away from Ethiopia’s Samuel Dadi, who together with Songok’s compatriot Samson Kiplagat and Abdul Rahman Suleiman of Qatar had formed the leading group of four from around the halfway point.
With Songok increasing his lead with every stride – he crossed the line 20 metres ahead of Dadi in a new personal best and Championships record time of 3:36.78– the battle was on for third place, with Suleiman coming up strongly behind Kiplagat into the home straight and coming through on the inside as the pair approached the line to edge the Kenyan for bronze.
