Boys' 1500m final report - Donetsk 2013

WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE

Seventeen year-old Robert Kiptoo Biwott put on an exhibition of front-running prowess, comfortably leading from the gun and extending his lead to 50 metres on his way to a scintillating 3:36.77 championship record.

The 17-year-old Kenyan improved the World youth-leading mark by three seconds, as she finished over four and a half seconds ahead of silver medallist, Tesfu Tewelde of Eritrea who himself registered a 3:42.14 personal best. 

Biwott passed the 400m mark in 59.41 before upping the tempo to a 57.54 second split, reaching 800m in 1:56.95 and enjoying a 10m advantage over his nearest rivals with two laps to go.

The Kenyan then sped up again with a 57.44 lap to go through 1,200m in 2:54.39 as he hit the bell with 50m to spare of the chasing group.

With a final 300m covered in 42.38, the African youth champion stormed home to take his nation’s sixth title in this event during the eight editions of this championship.

Tewelde meanwhile, overhauled Kenya’s Titus Kipruto Kibiego with 70m remaining to take the silver medal, as Kibiego clocked 3:42.97 for bronze.

Further back, Ethiopia’s Mathiwos Yotota finished fourth with a 3:44.43 lifetime best, as the USA’s Blake Haney ran a 3:44.69 personal best in fifth.