Leonard Chemutai: Uganda's cat in the bag qualifies for 3000m SC finals

Chemutai finished fifth in heat two, posting 8:24.74 in a close contest with the top four.

Before the world championships, Chemutai won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai, on June 10, taking victories in the mountain classic events.

Chemutai was making his debut as a senior athlete at the event, having previously featured in the junior ranks.

USA's Kenneth Rooks won the heat with 8:23.66, and Soufiane El Bakkali from Morocco took second position with 8:23.66.

Mohamed Amin from Tunisia clinched 8:24.20. Outside the top three, Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot beat Chemutai by 0:0.74 to take the fourth place.

However, heat two was the slowest of the three heats, with the best finisher (Kenneth Rooks) not close enough to the fifth-placed runner in the other two preliminaries.

Ethiopian World Record holder in 3000m SC Lamecha Girma posted 8:15.89, New Zealand's George Beamish 8:16.36 in second place, while Kenya's Leonard Kipkemoi posted 8:16.74 in heat three.

Heat one also had faster contenders, with all the top five beating Chemutai's heat three for the grand finale.

Ethiopia's Getnet Wale posted 8:19.99, Canadia Jean-Simon Desagnes posted 8:20.04 and Kenya's Simon Kiprop Koech 8:20.29.

The results from the three heats mean the work is cut out for Chemutai to work on his speed against the elite runners of the event if he is to stand a chance for the podium or money-bracket finish (top 8).

The finale is due Tuesday, August 20, at 8:40 pm. (EAT)