The 800m was one of the most keenly contested events of the Championships boasting seven heats and all the principle protagonists impressed - none more so than Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Salhi.
The 17-year-old, the fastest in the world this year with 1:47.74, looks like the man to beat after cruising through his heat into tomorrow’s semi-finals winning in 1:54.89.
His main threat appear to come to from Kenya as Abraham Kipngetich Ngeno and Bernard Kiptanui Kiptum both scored easy comfortable heat wins in 1.51.70 and 1:51.50 respectively.
The Sudan’s Abdalla Abdelgadir was another eye-catching heat winner in 1:51.72.
However, Africa may not have things all their own way come Saturday’s eagerly awaited final.
Great Britain’s Michael Rimmer, who reached the semi-finals in the 2001 IAAF World Youth Championships, represents the best of the European threat and effortlessly breezed through qualification in 1.54.77.
Romania traditionally performs well in the women’s endurance events but Florin Gania struck a blow for the men to produce a strong front running race to win in 1:52.88.
Lithuanian Vitali Kozlov, the victor in heat three, set a personal best of 1:53.02 to show he could also feature in the final.
