Africa to the fore in 400m, 800m and steeplechase

[August 08, 2017]    By Mitch Phillips

LONDON (Reuters) - Tuesday's action at the World Athletics Championships sees two of the most intriguing races of the program as South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk bids for the first half of his 400/200 meters double and Nigel Amos goes for gold in the men's 800m.

Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa and Baboloki Thebe of Botswana react. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

World record holder and defending champion Van Niekerk should be unbeatable in the 400m but faces a stiff challenge, not least from Botswanan duo Isaac Makwala and Thebe Baboloki.

Another Botswanan, Amos, will also have to be at his best in the 800m, where a clutch of athletes are suddenly dreaming of glory in the absence of Kenya's injured champion David Rudisha.

Kenya is expected to continue its dominance of the men's 3,000m steeplechase - though American Evan Jager has a chance to cause an upset - and the finals of the men's pole vault and women's javelin also take place.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)

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