Abel Kipsang recounts how he narrowly missed out on a podium finish in Budapest

ATHLETICS Abel Kipsang recounts how he narrowly missed out on a podium finish in Budapest

Abigael Wafula 16:07 - 24.08.2023

Team Kenya was to be represented by the trio of Kipsang, Reynold, and Timothy Cheruiyot but the latter failed to proceed to the final.

All eyes were on former World Indoor 1500m bronze medallist Abel Kipsang and reigning World Under-20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot to deliver medals during Wednesday night men’s 1500m final in Budapest, Hungary but they failed to live up to expectations.

Team Kenya was to be represented by the trio of Kipsang, Reynold, and Timothy Cheruiyot but the latter failed to proceed to the final after finishing ninth in the semifinal. The mantle was now left to the duo who unfortunately failed to honour the expectations Kenyans had.

Cheruiyot finished eighth while Kipsang pushed himself and managed a fourth-place finish, something he says was difficult to achieve. He disclosed that his goal was to reach the final but the competition was too tough and he could not continue pushing himself.

“The race wasn’t bad since I tried and that’s what I managed…my main aim was to get a medal but this time around, it has escaped me.

"During the last lap, everyone was fighting hard to get a medal and I was also trying my best. I was sure of the medal and it was stripped at the finish line,” he said.

The hotly contested race also saw pre-race favourite Jakob Ingebrigtsen forced to settle for second place after he was overtaken by Great Britain’s Josh Kerr who clocked 3:29.38.

The Norwegian clocked 3:29.65 ahead of compatriot Narve Gilje Nordas who finished third in 3:29.68.