Uganda’s Musagala into Olympics 1,500m final, Nakaayi out

Rest of Uganda’s schedule

Saturday August 20 
Men’s 1500m final 3.00am (Sunday)
Men’s 5000m final 3.30am (Sunday)
Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei

Sunday August 21 
Men’s Marathon final 3.30pm
Solomon Mutai, Jackson Kiprop and Stephen Kiprotich

Ronald Musagala’s 1,500m Olympic dream remained alive when he qualified Thursday night for the final. He advanced automatically with a time of 3:40.37, far from his personal best of 3:35.02, after finishing fifth in his semifinal.

Colleague Halimah Nakaayi in the 800m fell out after finishing 6th in her 800m race.

In the 1500m, Kenyan Asbel Kiprop set up a battle royale with Algeria’s defending champion Taoufik Makhloufi in Saturday’s  final after both advanced smoothly from the semi-finals.

Makhloufi, who won silver in the 800m behind David Rudisha Monday, came in second behind Kiprop in their semi-final.

Kiprop, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist and three-time defending world champion, easily won the heat in 3:39.73 after a stunning wide run-in from 250 metres.

Heat 1

1. Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:39.73. Q

2. Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG) 3:39.88 Q

3. Nicholas Willis (NZL) 3:39.96 Q

4. Ben Blankenship (USA) 3:39.99 Q

5. Charlie Grice (GBR) 3:40.05 Q

6. Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) 3:40.11 q

7. Nathan Brannen (CAN) 3:40.20 q

8. Benson Kiplagat Seurei (BRN) 3:40.53

9. Jakub Holusa (CZE) 3:40.83

10. Dawit Wolde (ETH) 3:41.42

11. Henrik Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:42.51

12. Pieter-Jan Hannes (BEL) 3:43.71

13. Brahim Kaazouzi (MAR) 3:48.66

Heat2

1. Ronald Kwemoi (KEN) 3:39.42. Q

2. Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI) 3:39.46 Q

3. Matthew Centrowitz (USA) 3:39.61 Q

4. Ryan Gregson (AUS) 3:40.02 Q

5. Ronald Musagala (UGA) 3:40.37 Q

6. Mekonnen Gegremedhin (ETH) 3:40.69

7. Homiyu Tesfaye (GER) 3:40.76

8. Charles Philibert-Thiboutot (CAN) 3:40.79

9. Fouad Elkaam (MAR) 3:40.93

10. Chris O’Hare (GBR) 3:44.27

11. David Bustos (ESP) 3:56.54

12. Robby Andrews (USA) DSQ

13. Elijah Motonei Manangoi (KEN) DNS

Athlete	Time
Ronald Kwemoi Kenya	3:39.42
Ayanleh Souleiman Djibouti	3:39.46
Matthew Centrowitz Jr. United States	3:39.61
Ryan Gregson Australia	3:40.02
Ronald Musagala Uganda	3:40.37
6 Mekonnen Gebremedhin Ethiopia	3:40.69
7 Homiyu Tesfaye Germany	3:40.76
8 Charles Philibert-Thiboutot Canada	3:40.79

Athlete	Time
Margaret Wambui Kenya	1:59.21
Francine Niyonsaba Burundi	1:59.59
3 Ajee’ Wilson United States	1:59.75
4 Nataliya Pryshchepa Ukraine	1:59.95
5 Renée Eykens Belgium	2:00.45
6 Halima Nakaayi Uganda	2:00.63
7 Yusneysi Santiusti Italy	2:00.80
8 Angelika Cichocka Poland	2:01.29

The other athlete in a final is Joshua Cheptegei, who a day earlier gave himself a second chance for a medal bid by finishing fourth in his heat and automatically qualifying for the 5000m final.

The 19-year-old Cheptegei had at the weekend finished 6th in the 10,000m final won by Britain’s Mo Farah.

Cheptegei  today run 13:25.70. His best time ever is 13:00.60.

Kipyeko 13:24.66 had a time better than his colleagues, but in finishing 11th joined Jacob Kiplimo, 15, who also finished 11th in heat 1, out of contention.