Kenya's Koitatoi Kidali has bid his Olympic dream goodbye following his poor finish in the men's 800m repechage round at the Paris Olympics.
Koitatoi Kidali stepped on the track for the men’s 800m repechage round, seeking a slot in the semifinal of the men’s 800m at the Paris Olympics.
Lining up in heat two, Kidali could only afford a sixth-place finish to bid goodbye to his Olympic dream. The race was won dominantly by Mexico’s Tonatiu Lopez to automatically seal a ticket to the semifinal.
Competing in the first heat, Botswana’s Kethobogile Haingura won the race in 1:45.52 to directly qualify for the men’s 800m semis. The third heat saw Simone Barontini win the race in fashion as America's Brandon Miller won the fourth heat.
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The 'Maasai maverick' finished fifth, competing in the second heat, and missed out on an automatic slot in the semifinal. He clocked 1:45.84. Frenchman Gabriel Tual won the race in a striking 1:45.13 as Mark English of Ireland finished second in 1:45.15. Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela completed the podium in a time of 1:45.58.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Wycliffe Kinyamal successfully went through to the men’s 800m semifinal following their impressive runs in the first round.
Competing in heat three, Wanyonyi, the world 800m silver medallist, was flawless as he claimed the win dominantly, clocking 1:44.64 to cross the finish line. Italy’s Catalin Tecuceanu finished second in an impressive 1:44.80.
Sweden’s Andreas Kramer completed the podium in the race with his 1:44.93 to advance to the semis too.
On his part, Kinyamal, the Commonwealth Games 800m champion, clocked an impressive 1:45.86 to complete the podium in heat five. Great Britain’s Ben Pattison won the race in 1:45.56 as South Africa’s Edmund du Plessis finished second in a time of 1:45.73.