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Unlike it has been when runners in 1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m needed to hit certain qualifying times to get to the next stage, qualification will now be based on positions.
Kenyan runners have been handed a big boost after World Athletics made changes to qualifying criteria for middle distance races at major championships, starting at this year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.
Unlike it has been when runners in 1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m needed to hit certain qualifying times to get to the next stage at major championships, qualification will now be based on positions.
World Athletics feels this will bring fairness after widespread complaints over athletes who go last in the heats or semi-finals being at an advantage of knowing what time they must clock to qualify for the next round, leading less competitive races.
“There has been widespread feedback on the significant disadvantage to athletes in the first heat or semifinal, and advantage to athletes in subsequent heats or semi-finals, when receiving qualification based on time due to knowing what is required to qualify,” World Athletics said regarding the changes.
“The new criteria establishes that, for all events from 1,500m and up to 5,000m in World Athletics Series competitions, qualification to the next round will be by place only.”
A number of Kenyans have fell foul of the rules, finishing in the top five but failing to make it to the next round, while others have also benefited when they went into their races knowing what was required to seal their ticket.
The new rules will, therefore, increase competition with everyone knowing that a good position will be the only guarantee for a slot in the next round.
Middle distance is where Kenya harvests most of its medals from with the likes of two-time world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon, world 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech among favourites to win gold in Budapest.
It is the same in the men’s category where Timothy Cheruiyot, 2019 1,500m world champion, will attempt to reclaim the title while steeplechase had long been considered a ‘Kenyan race’ until Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali spoiled the party in Oregon.
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