Advancing to the world championships 800m final by winning his opening round and semi-final races in controlled fashion, Kipyegon Bett experienced a much different scenario in the final, as he was bumped and almost tripped coming off the stagger at the end of the first turn. He eventually settled into third place behind Brandon McBride and Nijel Amos, who passed through 400m in 50.78.
Coming out of the third turn, Bett moved to into the lead and stayed there until Pierre-Ambroise Bosse overtook him just before the 600m mark. Bett remained in 2nd place around the final curve and down most of the home stretch, but had to concede the position to a rapidly-surging Adam Kszczot with 20m to go. At the finish, it was Bosse claiming the gold (1:44.67), with the silver going to Kszczot (1:44.95), and Bett taking the bronze (1:45.21), just holding off Kyle Langford by a step (1:45.25). Also left behind in Bett’s wake were ’12 London Games silver medalist and this season’s 800m world chart leader Amos (5th in 1:45.83) and ’13 IAAF 800m world champion Mohammed Aman (6th in 1:46.06).
Following his IAAF world junior 800m title in Bydgoszcz last year, Bett made a rapid ascension into the 800m world elite with runner-up performances at both ISTAF Berlin (1:43.76 personal best) and Diamond League Brussels (1:44.44). Leading up to the London world championships, Bett this year has produced a steady stream of top-quality 800m results, including winning at Diamond League Doha and finishing 2nd at the Diamond League stops in Rabat, Paris, and Rome, making him the top points qualifier going into the event final in Brussels.