Mukasakindi fails Istanbul test

IAAF World Indoors3000m heat results, Yesterday1. Meseret Defar (Eth) 9:11.76 Q2. Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet (Ken) 9:11.91 Q3. Svitlana Shmidt (Ukr) 9:12.39 Q4. Jackie Areson (Usa) 9:12.62 Q(SB)5. Bethlem Desalegn (Uae) 9:12.6310. Claudette Mukasakindi (Rwa) 9:26.89National long distance champion Claudette Mukasakindi failed to qualify past the final round of the 3000m at the 14th World Indoors yesterday in Istanbul, Turkey.Mukasakindi clocked nine minutes, twenty six seconds and eighty nine micro seconds to finish nine places behind Ethiopia’s Meseret Defar who easily won the heat stage in 9:11:76 thus qualifying for the final round.Mukasakindi’s time was not good enough to even help her qualify among the best four fastest time from two heat stages.World record holder, fastest in the world this year, four-time defending champion, Defar is strong favourite remains on course to win a fifth consecutive title in the 3000 metres.For 10 of the 15 laps of the first of two heats, World record holder, fastest in the world this year, four-time defending champion was roughly where she was expected to be. Following Defar across the line was Kenya’s Sylvia Kibet, fourth in Doha 2010, Svitlana Shmidt of Ukraine and Jackie Areson (USA) whose major credential before this year was as last year’s US NCAA 5000m indoor champion.The first four qualified automatically for the final. Again no surprise from a Defar heat, none of the four additional time qualifiers came from her heat.The other four places in the final went to Helen Clitheroe (GBR), Sara Hall (USA), Alia Saeed Mohammed (UAE) and Poland’s Lidia Chojecka, who followed the first four home. A mere 1.61 seconds covered the eight qualifiers.With Mukasakindi out, attention turns to Robert Kajuga who as due to compete last night in the men’s 300m by press time. This year’s event will see all gold medallists receive $40,000 (Rwf23.9m) with silver and bronze winners receiving $20,000 (Rwf11.9m) and $10,000 (Rwf5.9m).

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Mukasakindi fails Istanbul test