- Susan Ejore made it to the 1500m women’s final after finishing third in her heat that was held on Friday.
- Ejore will fight for the title in Sunday’s final against star runners such as Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.
- The upcoming final will take place at 3:28 PM East African Time (EAT) on Sunday.
Susan Lokayo Ejore is the only Kenyan runner who has qualified for the 1500m women’s final at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.
Ejore qualified for the highly anticipated final that will take place on Sunday, March 23 after finishing third in Heat 1.
The 29-year-old clocked 4:12.41 to finish behind Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay and United States’ Sinclair Johnson.
Tsegay, who is the favorite athlete to win the prestigious gold medal alongside the likes of Ejore, clocked 4:11.87 while Johnson stopped the clock at 4:12.18.
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Gudaf Tsegay seeking gold for Ethiopia
Reacting after the comfortable victory, Tsegay made her intentions of clinching the title clear.
“I’m so happy to secure my spot in Sunday’s big final at the World Indoor Championships Nanjing 2025.
Ready to give it my all and fight for gold. Thank you all for the support,” read part of the statement shared by the reigning 5000m world record holder.
Tsegay became famous in Kenya during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games thanks to her rivalry with the multiple world record holder Faith Kipyegon.
However, she will have to be at her best in order to overcome Ejore in the race that is slated to start at exactly 3:28 PM East African Time (EAT).
Some of the other runners who have what it takes to win this title include Tsegay’s compatriot Diribe Welteji and Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell.
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Welteji and Bell won Heat 3 and Heat 2 in that order after crossing the finishing line in 4:12.25 and 4:09.21. A total of nine runners, three from each Heat, will compete in the final.
Kenyan trio sail to 800m semifinals
Elsewhere, the Kenyan trio of Noah Kibet, Alex Ngeno Kipngetich, and Lilian Odira booked their tickets to Saturday’s 800m semifinals after performing well in their Heats.
Kibet and Kipngetich picked up second place positions in 1:48.31 and 1:48.17 respectively.
Sadly, another Kenyan representative in that race in Collins Kipruto failed to advance to the next round after finishing in a time of 1:50.08 to finish last in Heat 2.
A win for Ejore on Sunday will put her in a good place of shining in the upcoming 2025 World Athletics Championships that shall be staged in Tokyo, Japan from September 13 to September 21.
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