IAAF World U18: Kibet through to 800m semi-final

PIC: A downpour later on day one of the event got volunteers even busier. (Credit: Johnson Were)

IAAF WORLD U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

NAIROBI - Joshua Kibet's time of 1:53:31 was enough to qualify him for the semi-finals of the 800m  race, despite finishing fourth, at the IAAF World U18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.

Finishing outside the top three would mean no qualification but he was lucky to have posted one of the best times in all the heats to earn himself a place in the semis.

But fellow Ugandan Bekele Apenyo came in ffth in 1:57:22.

Kibet and Apenyo were both competing in their first international competition for Uganda, with each setting a personal best.

The semi-finals will take place Thursday at the Kasarani Stadium.

Uganda is using the Nairobi event to prepare for the IAAF World U20 Championships due next year in Helsinki Finland.

Uganda travelled to Nairobi with a team of 12 athletes: nine males and three females.