This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
Rotich Secures Bronze for Kenya at World Athletics Championship ¶
On October 2, 2019, Ferguson Rotich made history by clinching bronze in the 800m final at the World Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar. Despite a poor start, Rotich persevered to clock 1:43.82, securing a podium finish.
Rotich, who was participating in the World Athletics Championship for the fourth time, expressed gratitude for the award, acknowledging that the season had been long and he had taken time out due to injury. He thanked everyone who had enabled him to attain this achievement.
Rotich's determination and resilience were evident as he overcame the initial pain in his leg, which forced him to slow down. However, in the second lap, his leg responded well, allowing him to regain momentum.
Rotich's achievement marked a significant milestone in his career, and he is not giving up now. He plans to continue racing in the 800m but may upgrade to the 1,500m event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics if all goes well.
Conseslus Kipruto, the 3,000m steeplechase champion, will lead the Kenyan charge as he attempts to defend his title won in London 2017. All four Kenyans in this year's World Athletics Championship in Doha, Qatar, have qualified for Friday's final.
Benjamin Kigen, who finished second in heat three, believes that the team work between him and Kipruto could come in handy in the eventual race. He emphasized the importance of a good race plan to ensure that all medals are destined for home.
Abraham Kibiwot secured a slot in the final after finishing third in heat two, while Leonard Kipkemoi Bett completed Kenya's party in the final by clocking 8:13.07 to secure the last automatic slot from heat one.
Alphas Kishoiyan's quest for a spot in the final continues despite finishing third in heat one in the men's 400m. He expressed relief at making the semi-final, acknowledging that the heat was tough.
Emmanuel Korir, who lost the 800m race at the semi-final stage, easily won heat six in a time of 45:08. He downplayed the expectations, stating that the stakes would be different in the semi-finals.
Mathew Sawe, the African High Jump champion, received a rude welcome to the World stage after finishing fifteenth at the qualifying stage. He managed a single jump at 2.17m but faulted in 2.22m.
