Manangoi, Soget storm 1500m finals at WU20

World Under-18 1500m champion George Manangoi and Justus Soget are through to the men’s finals at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.

There was some gentle sparring in the home straight of the first heat featuring prospective champions Manangoi of Kenya and Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway.

Not wanting to be passed, Ingebrigtsen ran hard through the line to assure himself the heat win in 3:51.34 ahead of Manangoi in 3:51.40 with a 54.23 last lap.

Manangoi’s teammate Justus Soget clipped heels with Ethiopia’s Birhanu Sorsa on the top bend of the last lap but he safely progressed from the second heat in 3:44.71 with a 55.31 last lap.

Pre-race favourite Samuel Tefera from Ethiopia, who hasn’t finished lower than third on the IAAF Diamond League circuit this year – and finished two places ahead of Ingebrigtsen in the mile at the Prefontaine Classic – won the last heat in 3:44.48 with a 54.64 last lap.

Earlier in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, reigning champion Celliphine Chespol had a benign start to her title defence as she sauntered through the first heat in 9:45.60, winning by more than 10 seconds.

Chespol, the World Junior record holder, will represent Kenya in Friday’s final along with compatriot Mercy Chepkirui who ran 9:50.05 for second place behind Chemutai in heat 3.