World Indoor championship3000m1. Augustine Kiprono Choge (Ken) 7:57.49 Q2. Mohamed Farah (GRB) 7:57.59 Q3.Bernard Lagat (USA) 7:57.68 Q4. Dejen Gebremeskel (Eth) 7:57.69 Q10. Robert Kajuga (Rwa) 8:07.44(PB)11. Cornelius Panga (Tan) 8:15.20Upcoming long distance gazelle Robert Kajuga managed a personal best on his debut and failed to reach the final round of the men’s 3000 metres in the on-going World Indoor championship in Istanbul.Kajuga ran on Friday night and clocked eight minutes, seven seconds and 44 micro seconds to record his best time ran in his career in the 3000m.Kajuga controlled the first 1000m but pressure from Kenya’s Augustine Kiprono Choge sent him back at the extreme end of the race to finish tenth beating Tanzania’s Cornelius Panga by eight minutes.His teammate Claudette Mukasakindi suffered a similar fate as she was the first one to bow out of the championship after she failed to qualify from her heat.Defending champion Bernard Lagat showed nimble footwork to avoid falling in his heat of the men’s 3000 metres and advance to the final on Sunday. Trying to move through on the inside, Lagat was squeezed and trod on the plinth. He went down, but quickly regained his balance.Avoiding the trouble, Gus Choge of Kenya came down the outside to take the heat in seven minutes 57.49 seconds. Daegu 5000 metres world champion Mo Farah, who led at the bell, was second in 7:57.59 with Lagat third in 7:57.68.Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebrmeskel took the vital fourth place in 7:57.69. Others who qualified from the first heat include; Edwin Soi of Kenya in 7:49.48, Australia’s Craig Mottram in 7:49.62, Moses Kipsiro of Uganda was third in 7:49.71 with Yenew Alamirew of Ethiopia fourth just 0.01 behind.Lopez Lomong (USA), Arne Gabius (GER), Elroy Gelant (RSA) and Bilisuma Shuge (BRN) followed close behind to advance to the final on time.Lagat will be attempting to win a third world indoor 3000 on Sunday, which would place him in a tie with Haile Gebrselassie for most wins in the event.
