“I believe I have the potential to earn a medal.” Confidence was never Phanuel Koech’s weak suit. And why wouldn’t the Kenyan teenager feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins? After all, just two months ago, he announced himself to the world in a way that few can dream of. However, as fate would have it, the young Turk’s hopes of bagging a medal in the Japanese capital ended here.

In Heat 4 of the men’s 1500m at the ongoing World Championships, Koech finished the race in 12th place. While that would certainly rule out the possibility of the 18-year-old qualifying for the finals, the fact that he tripped in the last lap makes things contentious. In a post on X by Timo_Utd from September 13, Koech’s last shot at making it to the last men’s 1500m was pondered on.

“Hopefully @athletics_kenya appeals that and gets Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech advanced to the semis. He was obviously clipped there,” reads the social media update, as it highlighted how a brief contact with Sweden’s Samuel Pihlstrom caused Koech to trip and fall. While trying to overtake the Swede during a turn, Phanuel receives a soft touch on his back from the former, and the London Diamond League gold medalist never recovered from the setback.

Pretty hard blow to the gut, no doubt. Even more so, considering that Koech was the second-fastest man in the 1500m event this season, thanks to his blitzing 3.27 finish at the Meeting de Paris on June 20. Citius Mag’s Chris Chavez also updated on the matter, writing on X, “Kenya’s Phanuel Koech, who has run 3:27.72 on the year took a fall in the race and will probably protest to get put through.” Considering how Koech burst onto the scene in Paris in June, it’s understandable why track and field connoisseurs were hoping with all their hearts to see the Kenyan in the finals. However, all that anticipation was met with denial as Koech’s appeal to be allowed to be advanced was rejected by the officials. 

What makes the whole thing even more sorrowful is that Pihlstrom qualified for the next round after clocking 3:37.25 to the finishing line in Tokyo. Thankfully, though, Koech wasn’t the only one in Heat 4 who had to suffer heartbreak. The 2x Olympic and World Championships gold medalist, Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, also crashed out of the competition after finishing the race in eighth place (3:37.84). The 24-year-old has been struggling with injuries and hasn’t run outdoors all season, making his woeful end to the Japanese campaign somewhat less devastating than that of Phanuel’s. “Of course, it’s very disappointing but at the same time it is a reality check,” the Norwegian said.

However, while there was plenty in Heat 4 to keep the fans on their toes, other men’s 1500m heat events ahead of the semifinals also had plenty of drama for the track and field community.

Phanuel Koech isn’t alone in his misery

In Heat 1, France’s Azeddin Habz crossed the finishing line in seventh place (3:36.62), just out of the qualifying standard. Habz became the fastest man over the 1500m stretch this season with a jaw-dropping 3:27.49 finish at the Meeting de Paris, on the same day as Koech’s incredible performance put him in the top-10 all-time fastest list in the event. But with all the big names seeming to be dropping like flies, does this mean that the semifinals will be essentially a showdown between upstarts who have only recently made the headlines?

Not entirely! Britain’s Josh Kerr finished Heat 1 in second place (3:35.98) and has secured his spot for the next 1500m race in Tokyo. Just a look back, Kerr was upended by Koech at the London Diamond League. With today’s qualification, the seasoned Briton can finally hope to compensate for his previous disappointment. Moreover, the USA remains firmly in a position to win gold at Tokyo with Cole Hocker.

The 2024 Olympic gold medalist proved his worth yet again by finishing Heat 3 in first place (3:41.88), bagging a spot in the semis. With no World Championships accolades to his name yet, the 23-year-old had already made it clear that he would come to Tokyo with all guns blazing. “I think that would be a huge step in the right direction for my career,” Hocker told NBC Sports in June. Will Kerr and Hocker be able to keep the fire burning for the men’s 1500m with the likes of Koech and Ingebrigtsen out? What do you think?