00:00Over two laps for these fellas and this heat doesn't have the same sheen of big names as the James
00:08Preston of New Zealand. He's a 1.44 performer, his absolute best from a couple of years ago. Did that
00:15in Germany in May 24 and then completed the line-up with Karunaratna of Sri Lanka, who's a 1.48
00:25performer at his absolute best.
00:27So a spread of abilities here, but top of the pile has to be the Jamaican Anderson in that yellow
00:34in lane five. Outside him is Adolphus. And this second heat gets underway. In conditions where there is a strong
00:47wind down the back straight.
00:54The tall figure of the Kiwi, James Preston, just holding his position. Everybody reluctant to take the lead. Look, as
01:01they go through 200 metres, it's four abreast and then it begins to sort itself out.
01:07Nice and steady, this first 200. It's not particularly quick. The Australian Luke Boyes moving to the front. It looks
01:14a little bit reluctantly and then they probably thought, well, I might as well.
01:16Nobody wanted to lead up the back straight. That's why it was four abreast. But now down the home straight
01:21with the wind behind them.
01:22The tiny figure of the Kenyan, Kelvin Lossi there, well positioned on the shoulder of the Kiwi Preston.
01:29Yeah, as they go through the bell, Boyes takes the bell. But he's got the Kenyan Kelvin sitting on his
01:33shoulder and the Kiwi athlete.
01:36But you're right, no one really wanted to take it. But they're just starting to open it out there. Boyes
01:39is just starting to open it out.
01:41He knows that he's got the Kiwi and the Kenyan athlete sitting on his shoulder. And here comes Kelvin now.
01:50He's just starting to make his move down the back straight. He's not going to let Boyes get too far
01:53away from him as they come with 200 metres to go.
01:56The long, loping legs of Navaski Anderson there have stayed back in fourth place into the wind up the back
02:01straight.
02:01He's got a bit of protection there. The Australian has done all the hard work there. Luke Boyes into the
02:05wind and the back straight stretch.
02:07Coming into the straight now, though, he's really kicked harder. He's having a great run as the Aussie.
02:11He is a 1.44.1 performer this year. And Navaski Anderson remembers the first three who go through by
02:17right.
02:17Just managing things here. A little glance over his shoulder at the Kiwi, James Preston in fourth place.
02:22But it's the Kenyan who takes it. The little figure of Lossi there coming home ahead of Luke Boyes who
02:27run a really smart, controlled race there from the front.
02:30Did more than enough. Anderson perhaps running the smartest race of all.
02:34The Jamaican knowing that the first three go through by right. So why do any more work than is necessary
02:40in this first round of the men's 800 metres?
02:44The winning time for Kelvin Lossi. Nice and steady. 1.47.22. A little bit slower than the first teeth.
02:51But no major surprises there.
02:53No, and I did see from the very, very gun. Anderson just looked very relaxed.
02:57He wasn't, he wasn't interested in getting involved in anything. He's a very, he's a very tall, rangy runner and
03:04he just did his own thing and he just did exactly what he needed to do.
03:08He wasn't interested in trying to get the fastest time. He knows what he needs to do. Top three.
03:13Lossi uses as little, as little amount of energy as possible. Just coming into the home, you can see him.
03:18Anderson just having a look around.
03:21Whereas, whereas the Kenyan and the Australian athlete, they're having a little bit of a battle.
03:26And that's weighted energy, you're right. Yeah, yeah. Boyes just shuts down in the last 20, 30 metres. He knows
03:31he's, but he put a lot of effort in, in that first, sort of, first part of the race when
03:36he was leading it.
03:37But you can just see the difference in technique. You've got Lottie working really hard to take that win, to
03:43stamp his name on it.
03:45And then you've got the Jamaican athlete in third, just cruising along, thinking, I've done what I need to do.
03:51I'm going to save some energy for the semi-finals.
03:54Absolutely. And Lottie there. Well, he is 26. It's not a name I'm that familiar with. He's had a wonderful
03:59summer already, down to 1.43.
04:02African Championship, gold already under his belt. Most of his racing has been back in Kenya or at the African
04:09Championships in Ghana, in Accra.
04:13But why he worked so hard here to win a first round race?
04:17I think a lot of coaches would have had a word with him before the race and maybe somebody would
04:22have a word with him after the race and just say,
04:23Look, run cerebrally as well as really well. He's run beautifully. But what is the need to push hard like
04:32that through the last 50 metres?
04:35You don't really, because obviously you get lane draws in the semi-finals, but once you get to the break,
04:41it all works itself out.
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