Day 6 of the Osaka 2007 World Track Championships, there were no finals in the Middle to Distance events however we had heats in both the Men's 800 and 5000m.
Nothing 'fantastical' took place in the 800m heats, except maybe the below par performance of the Netherland's Bram Som, which saw his exit from the games. All the other big names came through, inclusive of defending champion, Rashid Ramzi. See short reports below
In the 5000m, there was also nothing outstanding to report except maybe for the departure of Kenya's Isaac Kiprono Songok, who failed to progress to the finals. Time-to-Run favourite, the newly crowned 1500m Champion Bernard Lagat, came through with his 2 American team-mates and looked comfortable in qualification. See short reports below
Men's 800m heats :
first 3 of each heat (Q) plus the 6 fastest times (q) qualified.
Heat1. favourites: Belal Mansoor Ali and Amine Laalou
The 1st heat saw Moroccan, Amine Laalou, move to the next round with contemptuos ease. Canada's Achraf Tadili was well placed but fuild to build on his position, fading away over the final 50m. Belal Mansoor Ali of Bahrain looked sluggish and it came as no surprise to see him not make the next round. Brazil's Kleberson Davide bowled through to take 3rd place. The USA's Nick Symmonds produced his customary kick to take 2nd.
1 6 820 Amine Laalou [MOROCCO] MAR 1:46.00 Q .
2 9 1140 Nick Symmonds [UNITED STATES] USA 1:46.16 Q .
3 2 394 Kleberson Davide [BRAZIL] BRA 1:46.17 Q
400m 680 Sajad Moradi IRI 51.27
further results below
Heat2. favourites: Gary Reed - Justus Koech - Antonio Manuel Reina
The Netherland's Arnoud Okken went straight to the front taking the field through 400 in 51:55. With 300 to Canada's Gary Reed overtook without really accelerating and controlled matters from the front, to go through untroubled. The Kenyan Justus Koech went past Spain's Antonio Reina over the last 25m even though the Spaniard was at 'top end'. Reina was out. Algeria's Nabil Madi worked impressively to take 2nd place and a booking to the next round.
1 4 428 Gary Reed [CANADA] CAN 1:46.00 Q .
2 8 309 Nabil Madi [ALGERIA] ALG 1:46.02 Q .
3 2 771 Justus Koech [KENYA] KEN 1:46.08 Q
400m 850 Arnoud Okken NED 51.55
further results below
Heat3. favourites: Mulaudzi - Ramzi - Som - Bogdanov
With South Africa's Mbulaeni Mulaudzi, defending 800m Champion of 2005 Rashid Ramzi, the Netherland's Bram Som and Russia's Dmitriy Bogdanov in this heat, it sure made qualification to the next round tough. A fast pace would be needed however this was not provided with Brazil's Fabiano Peçanha taking the field through 400 in 52.04. Ramzi was at the rear as they passed the 200 in 24.76 but was well placed by 300m. They passed 600 in 78.75 with Mulaudzi content to sit until easing past with Ramzi tracking him. Bogdanov moved into take the automatic qualifier in 3rd. Som waltzed in last and was no more.
1 7 938 Mbulaeni Mulaudzi [SOUTH AFRICA] RSA 1:45.56 Q .
2 2 408 Rashid Ramzi [BAHRAIN] BRN 1:45.64 Q (SB)
3 6 949 Dmitriy Bogdanov [RUSSIA] RUS 1:45.66 Q .
4 3 401 Fabiano Peçanha [BRAZIL] BRA 1:45.77 q
400m 401 Fabiano Peçanha BRA 52.04
further results below
Heat4. favourites: Yego - Milkevics - Robinson
With the USA's Khadevis Robinson in the field you were assured of a fast pace. If Robinson is known for anything it is his desire to set a fast 400m. And on this occasion, by his own admission, the first 400 in 400m in 51.08 was not to his liking, lightly too slow. The Latvian Dmitrijs Milkevics tracked in 2nd with Kenya's Yego in 3rd followed by Britain's Michael Rimmer. Yego takes the win while Rimmer eases through for 4th. The strong acceleration to the line from this group sees 5 runners from this heat qualify. However in the closing phase of the race, I believe (an opinion) the Latvian deliberately blocked Spain's Manuel Olmedo and there would have been grounds to lodge a a complaint if he had not qualified on time.
1 6 780 Alfred Kirwa Yego [KENYA] KEN 1:45.52 Q (SB)
2 5 605 Michael Rimmer [GREAT BRITAIN & N.I.] GBR 1:45.66 Q .
3 9 798 Dmitrijs Milkevics [LATVIA] LAT 1:45.72 Q .
4 7 1134 Khadevis Robinson [UNITED STATES] USA 1:45.78 q .
5 3 514 Manuel Olmedo [SPAIN] ESP 1:45.90 q
400m 401 Fabiano Peçanha BRA 52.04
further results below
Heat5. favourites: Borzakovskiy - Bungei
With the two big names of Russia Yuriy Borzakovskiy and Kenya's Wilfred Bungei in this heat, it would always be a tussle for the automatic single place left. Sudan's Abubaker Kaki Khamis and Senegal's Abdoulaye Wagne provided the early pace coming through 400 in 52.23, this was now a kickers' race. What was Bungei doing?. The Top 2 names moved into position with 200 to go. The heat won in 1:45.50 by the Saudi athlete, Mohammed Al Salhi, who came through on the outisde. Salhi has beaten the Olympic Champion. He certainly is a nice looking athlete. Incredibly 2 athletes qualify on time from this heat even after the opening lap being the slowest of all 6 heats.
1 7 785 Mohammed Al Salhi [SAUDI ARABIA] KSA 1:45.58 Q .
2 3 950 Yuriy Borzakovskiy [RUSSIA] RUS 1:45.79 Q .
3 4 765 Wilfred Bungei [KENYA] KEN 1:45.79 Q .
4 5 811 Yassine Bensghir [MOROCCO] MAR 1:45.90 q (SB)
5 8 986 Abdoulaye Wagne [SENEGAL] SEN 1:46.20 q
400m 1007 Abubaker Kaki Khamis SUD 52.23
further results below
Heat6. favourites: Kamel - Chehibi - Chepkirwok - Al-Azemi
The one big name and our fancy for a medal was Youssef Saad Kamel of Bahrain. He is the son of former double World Champion over 800m, Billy Konchellah of Kenya. Mohammad Al-Azemi, Kuwait's very own Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame, was also in the field and hoped to be advacing to the next round. The first 200m was blasted through in 24.79 by USA's Duane Solomon, who continued through 400 in 51.97 before he faded right out of contention, not a memorable entry onto the big stage. Kamel took the lead down the backstraight was well clear by 200 to go, galloping clear as an easy qualifier in 1:45.25
1 7 405 Youssef Saad Kamel [BAHRAIN] BRN 1:45.25 Q .
2 2 1063 Abraham Chepkirwok [UGANDA] UGA 1:45.68 Q .
3 3 794 Mohammad Al-Azemi [KUWAIT] KUW 1:45.85 Q .
4 5 814 Mouhssin Chehibi [MOROCCO] MAR 1:46.16 q .
400m 1138 Duane Solomon USA 51.97
further results below
Reports for the Men's 5000 semis to follow
