OLYMPICS: Musagala into semis, Chekwel and Chesang out

Ronald Musagala stormed into the Rio Olympics 1,500m men’s semifinal with the 4th fastest time of the heats on Tuesday.

The 24 year old clocked 3:38.45 to advance to Thursday’s semifinal. His best time for the distance is 3:35.02 and going by the confidence with which he set the pace in the race, could better this in the semifinals.

Earlier, Juliet Chekwel’s misery at the games continued, when she was edged out of contention for a place in the women’s 5,000m final by finishing 9th 15:29.07 in her heat.  The top 15 in both heats qualified, Chekwel was 17th.

The stage was a bit too high for Stella Chesang, who faded to 13th  in 15:49.80 in heat 2.

Wed August 17 
Men’s 5000m round 1 – 4.05pm
Jacob Kiplimo, Phillip Kipyego and Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei

Women’s 800m round 1 – 4.55pm
Halimah Nakaayi and Winnie Nanyondo

Men’s Steeplechase final
Jacob Araptany

POS	RANK	BIB	HEAT	ATHLETE	RESULTS
1	1	2301	3	Jakub HOLUŠACZE	3:38.31 Q
2	2	2689	3	Ronald KWEMOIKEN	3:38.33 Q
3	3	2744	3	Abdalaati IGUIDERMAR	3:38.40 Q
4	4	3022	3	Ronald MUSAGALAUGA	3:38.45 Q
5	5	2803	3	Henrik INGEBRIGTSENNOR	3:38.50 Q
6	6	2814	3	Nicholas WILLISNZL	3:38.55 Q
7	7	2177	3	Benson Kiplagat SEUREIBRN	3:38.82 q
8	8	2094	3	Pieter-Jan HANNESBEL	3:38.89 q
9	9	3051	3	Ben BLANKENSHIPUSA	3:38.92 q
10	1	2682	1	Asbel KIPROPKEN	3:38.97 Q
11	2	2038	1	Ryan GREGSONAUS	3:39.13 Q
12	3	2317	1	Ayanleh SOULEIMANDJI	3:39.25 Q
13	4	2468	1	Chris O’HAREGBR	3:39.26 Q
14	10	2401	3	Dawit WOLDEETH	3:39.29 q
15	5	3056	1	Matthew CENTROWITZUSA	3:39.31 Q
16	6	2741	1	Fouad ELKAAMMAR	3:39.51 Q
17	7	2349	1	David BUSTOSESP	3:39.73 q
18	8	2207	1	Charles PHILIBERT-THIBOUTOTCAN	3:40.04 q
19	9	2811	1	Julian MATTHEWSNZL	3:40.40
20	11	2006	3	Salim KEDDARALG	3:40.63
21	10	2416	1	Florian CARVALHOFRA	3:41.87
22	11	2128	1	Thiago ANDRÈBRA	3:44.42
23	12	2043	3	Luke MATHEWSAUS	3:44.51
24	12	2942	1	Santino KENYISSD	3:45.27
25	1	2009	2	Taoufik MAKHLOUFIALG	3:46.82 Q
26	2	2690	2	Elijah Motonei MANANGOIKEN	3:46.83 Q
27	3	3046	2	Robby ANDREWSUSA	3:46.97 Q
28	4	2191	2	Nathan BRANNENCAN	3:47.07 Q
29	5	2394	2	Mekonnen GEBREMEDHINETH	3:47.33 Q
30	6	2745	2	Brahim KAAZOUZIMAR	3:47.39 Q
31	7	2519	2	Homiyu TESFAYEGER	3:47.44
32	8	2808	2	Hamish CARSONNZL	3:48.18
33	9	2365	2	Adel MECHAALESP	3:48.41
34	10	2458	2	Charlie GRICEGBR	3:48.51 q
35	13	3008	3	Ilham Tanui ÖZBILENTUR	3:49.02
36	14	3123	3	Mohammed RAGEHYEM	3:58.99
37	15	2778	3	Erick RODRIGUEZNCA	4:00.30
38	13	3013	1	Saud ALZAABIUAE	4:02.35
39	11	2883	2	Paulo AMOTUNROT	4:03.96
40	12	2969	2	Augusto SOARESTLS	4:11.35
		2316	2	Abdi Waiss MOUHYADINDJI	DNF
		2802	2	Filip INGEBRIGTSENNOR	DQ
		2402	1	Aman WOTEETH	DNS

****

Algeria’s defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi on Tuesday advanced smoothly to the semi-finals of the men’s 1500m having had just two hours’ sleep after bagging silver in the 800m.

Makhloufi, who came in second in the 800m behind David Rudisha late Monday, timed 3min 47.07sec to win his heat.

“I had some massage after the 800m,” he said.

“I was in my bed at 4 o’clock in the morning and I slept only two hours!

“This part between the 800m and the heats of the 1500m was always going to be the most difficult part in qualifying for the semi-finals of the latter.”

Makhloufi admitted that he hadn’t been certain that a double was on the cards.

“I wasn’t sure about doubling up. I did some training in Algeria and then we took the decision, me and my coach, here in Rio,” he confirmed.

“In my head I said I wanted to run the 800m.

“I was very pleased with the race, I am so happy with the silver medal in the 800m behind Rudisha. I wanted to win, but I didn’t get much chance in the last 250 metres.”

Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, 2008 Olympic gold medallist and three-time defending world champion, easily won his heat in 3:38.97.

Also qualifying for Thursday’s semi-finals, with the final scheduled for Saturday, are Kiprop’s teammate Ronald Kwemoi as well as Morocco’s world bronze medallist Abdalaati Iguider, Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman and American duo Ben Blankenship and Matther Centrowitz.

******

Juliet Chekwel’s Olympic debut ended disastrously for her when she stopped running one lap to the end, thinking she had finished the 10000m final on Friday.

Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana and the leading pack overlapped many athletes which might have been the cause of the confusion, but Chekwel gets a chance to amend that by qualifying for the 5000m final.

In Friday’s race, Ayana set 29 min 17.45sec to smash one of the longest-held records  in athletics to claim 10,000m glory and claim the first gold of the Olympic track and field competition.

Chekwel 26,  whose best time in the 5000m is 15:20.15 runs in heat 1 and will be joined by World Mountain running champion Stella Chesang in heat 2.

The 19-year-old Chesang looks good to make the final if she can match her 5000m personal best of 15.10 set in May. The top 5 in each heat, plus top 5 losers advance to the final.

The former junior ace started her seniors career on a high by winning Uganda’s national cross country championship title early this year.

Later today, Ronald Musagala who is better known for his 800m exploits, takes a shot at 1,500m qualification. The 1,500m is one of the most competitive and brutal races on track and field.

Tuesday August 16 
Women’s 5000m round 1 – 3.30pm
Juliet Chekwel and Stella Chesang

Men’s 1500m round 1 – 4-30pm
Ronald Musagala

Wed August 17 
Men’s 5000m round 1 – 4.05pm
Jacob Kiplimo, Phillip Kipyego and Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei

Women’s 800m round 1 – 4.55pm
Halimah Nakaayi and Winnie Nanyondo

Men’s Steeplechase final
Jacob Araptany

Thursday August 18 
Men’s 1500m semifinal – Ronald Musagala
Women 800m semifinal

Friday August 19 
Women’s 5000m final

Saturday August 20 
Men’s 1500m final
Women’s 800m final
Men’s 5000m final 3.30pm
Jacob Kiplimo, Phillip Kipyego and Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei

Sunday August 21 
Men’s Marathon final 3.30pm
Solomon Mutai, Jackson Kiprop and Stephen Kiprotich