World Indoor Championships: Kenyan Medal Hopes falter in China
Kenya will be seeking it's first medals of the 2025 World Indoor Championships currently being held in Nanjing China on Saturday after a disappointing display from the nine person squad so far.
Kenya's Purity Gitonga and Cornelius Korir will battle in the 3000 M final which will take place from 2 PM local time Saturday.
They will be hoping to post better results following a disappointing time for Kenya at the event.
Kenyan team for Nanjing
Women
800m: Vivian Chebet Kiprotich, Lilian Odira
1500m: Susan Lokayo Ejore, Dorcus Ewoi
3000m: Purity Kajuju Gitonga
Men
800m: Noah Kibet, Alex Ngeno Kipngetich, Collins Kipruto
1500m: Festus Lagat
3000m: Cornelius Kemboi
In the 800M event, Noah Kibet and Alex Ngeno both failed to qualify for the final after finishing fourth in their semifinals on Saturday.
Kibet finished fourth in semi-final one, with a time of 1.48.90, behind the USA's Josh Hoey 1.45.23 and Uganda's Tom Dradriga who managed 1.46.98.
Ngeno too finished fourth in his semifinal, with a time of 1.47.53. He was behind the USA's Brandon Miller who came top with a time of 1.46.84. Simon Chapple from the Netherlands was second.
In the women's segment, Lilian Odira finished last in heat three with a time of 2.6.12 to miss the final slot.
Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma and Nigist Tegachew finished first and second to qualify for the final.
The result means Kenya will have no representation in the 800M final, with Vivian Chebet having been eliminated already.
The only other Kenyan woman to so far make a final is Susan Lokayo Ejore, who did enough to make it to the 1500 M final on Sunday.
Her compatriot in the 1500M, Dorcas Ewoi failed to travel to China due to issues with documentation.
In the Men's 1500, Kenya's Festus Lagat also failed to make the final after finishing fourth in his heat.