While it seems possible that Paula Radcliffe will run in Friday’s 10,000
m final just five days after dropping out of the marathon another Briton could
be on her way to a second gold medal. Three days after winning the 800 metres
Kelly Holmes qualified for the 1,500 m final. She saved some energy during the
semi final and concentrated on the finish. While Russian Natalya Jevdokimova
won the race in a time of 4.04,66 minutes Holmes came in second (4:04,77).
“Until now I have not thought about a second gold medal. I am still
happy to have won one in the 800 metres. I take one race after another”,
Kelly Holmes said. The other semi final was won by Romanian Maria Cioncan in
4:06,69 minutes. There is no big favourite in Saturday’s final.
The 800 metres men’s final will be another race on Saturday which is
wide open. Wilfred Bungei (Kenya), who holds the world’s fastest time of
the year, world record holder Wilson Kipketer (Denmark) and World Champion
Djabir Said Guerni (Algeria) all won their semi finals. Juri Borsakowski
(Russia) is another competitor with a chance for the gold. “I am happy to
have reached the final, because this is never an easy task”, Wilson
Kipketer said.