Obiri has belief after smooth advance to 5K final

Philip Muchiri in Doha, Qatar

World 5000m Champion Helen Obiri is optimistic of a good show in this year’s World Athletics Championship final set for Saturday in Doha, Qatar.

Following a not so impressive outing in the 10,000m final on day two, Obiri did not take chances this time round.

“It was a good race my focus was to qualify for the final and try, to run a front race not to be blocked out; running from behind you encounter a lot of pushing and you know in the final it’s no bodies race,” she said.

After the day two debacle where she finished fifth with a personal best of 30:35.82, in her speciality race she clocked 14:52.13 to win heat one.

“For now I am 90 percent and with two days to rest until Saturdays final, let’s hope I will be fully recovered because the 10,000 was a tough race that made me want to cancel the 5,000,” she added.

Also in the final will be Margaret Chelimo and Lilian Kasait. Chelimo finished third in heat two in a time of 15:01.58, ahead of fourth placed Kasait, 15:02.03.

In the 1,500m defending champion Faith Chepngetich made her intentions known early despite returning to competitive running some four months ago from a maternity leave.

“I thank God I came from maternity leave even strong, this heat had the newly crowned 10,000m Champion, Sifan Hassan and she made it fast; let’s wait and see the semi final,” She said.

All along the race the Olympic champion used the outer lane.

“There is a lot of pushing in 1,500 that is why I prefer not to be in the inner lane,”

It’s a message that was really useful to her counterpart, Winny Chebet who had to struggle to take the second position in heat two in a time of 4:08.36.

“I did not have the best strategy and I have used a lot of strength to catch up, but in tomorrow’s semi final I will try a new tactic,” Chebet told citizen digital.

Emmanuel Korir will be the only Kenyan in the 400m final, the American based athlete clocked 44:37 to register his season’s best, after finishing behind American Fred Kerley.

National Champion Alphas Kishoiyan finished sixth in heat five in 45:55.