Briton makes pole vault progress in Tokyo and two out of three go through to next round of 800m as we bring you a summary of the men’s qualifying results from Saturday morning at the Games

There was positive news for British athletes on Saturday morning as three of the four in action advanced, with Harry Coppell having the greatest major pole vault competition of his career to make the final and two 800m contenders progressing to the semi-finals.

The men’s 800m heats got off to a sensational start when Isaiah Jewett blazed the first lap in 51.65, then kicked even harder. The American ultimately paid for his aggression and Ferguson Rotich of Kenya kicked by to win in 1:43.75. The previous fastest Olympic heat had been 1:44.69 by Wilson Kipketer in 2004 and the fastest qualification 1:43.79 by Norberto Tellez in the 1996 semi-finals.

In second place Australia’s Peter Bol set an area record of 1:44.13 and British indoor record-holder Elliot Giles ran a controlled, sensible 1:44.49 in third to pass Jewett, who held on to finish fifth and qualify as a fastest loser in 1:45.07.

Ferguson Rotich, Peter Bol and Elliot Giles (Getty)

The second heat didn’t go quite so well for Britain as European junior champion and former world leader Oliver Dustin seemed to lose all momentum at 600m and dropped back. Despite kicking in the final straight, his sixth place in a time of 1:46.94 was not enough for qualification in a race won by Canadian Marco Arop in 1:45.26.

Dustin said: “I’m not happy. I felt really flat and I didn’t really have it, but this will make me stronger. I’ll be back, definitely. I don’t think I’ve had anything wrong coming in here – training camp went well, odd little niggle but nothing major. That’s the way this sport goes. You can be on top of the world one day and it’ll kick you in the teeth the next.”

The third heat was won by US trials winner Clayton Murphy in 1:45.53 with an impressive sprint finish, while Dan Rowden finished second, qualifying with a little in hand in 1:45.73.

“I haven’t actually raced in a while so it was good to get a run out and just feel the racing in my legs,” said the Briton. “It was an interesting heat because one of the guys fell over at the start, but you’ve just got to compose yourself, put yourself in the right positions and then go, and that’s what I did.

“I’ve had some quad niggles in preparation, I had a fantastic winter, fantastic start of summer, little niggles here and there, but if anything it’s probably given me some good rest coming into the champs so I don’t think it’s affected things anyway. It’s the Olympics, you’ve got to give it everything you have – and that’s what I’ll be doing.”

Daniel Rowden follows Brandon McBride (Getty)

The world leader Nijel Amos of Botswana easily won heat four in 1:45.04 in a race that 2017 world champion Pierre-Ambroise Bosse led the majority of but faded badly in the straight to finish sixth in 1:45.97, though his aggression secured him the very last fastest loser spot.

The fifth heat was a messy, slow and tactical affair won by Mexican Jesus Lopez in 1:46.14. Poland’s European indoor champion Patryk Dobek was third in 1:46.59, a metre up on Ireland’s Mark English’s 1:46,75 which was not fast enough to make the semi-finals.

The final heat was won by 1:42.05 performer Emmanuel Korir in 1:45.33.

Close call as Coppell goes through

Harry Coppell performed superbly in qualifying with first-time clearances at 5.30m, 5.50m and 5.65m. Though he failed at 5.75m, he made the final on countback thanks to being one of three athletes on 5.65m who joined the 11 who cleared the higher height.

The British record-holder said: “It was a close call at the end! I would never wish for anyone not to clear a bar – when I was out I had accepted it, I thought I was done. But then it was obviously a rollercoaster emotionally.

“Scott [coach Scott Simpson] told me I was equal 12th, but then I thought ‘I am not believing it until I see it for myself’. It took a good 5-10 minutes before the result came up. I’ve just got to get ready now and change tactics a little bit so we are ready for those bigger bars. I can’t complain!

“My prep throughout the season hasn’t been the best so to come here and have a great training camp and come into this and have a comp with no failures, it’s really paid off. I’m just so happy I put together a good series of jumps.”

The big favourite – world record-holder Mondo Duplantis – did not have a clear record as he failed an attempt at 5.50m. However, he comfortably cleared 5.75m in an event which was missing world champion Sam Kendricks due to a positive Covid test.

100m qualifying rounds

The first round of the 100 metres are in the evening session (July 31) but three 100m qualifying rounds took place on Saturday morning and the heats were respectively won by Zimbabwe’s Ngoni Makusha in 10.32, Oman’s Barakat Al Harthi in 10.27 and Refugee Dorian Keletela’s 10.33.

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