Kenyan athletics seem to have received a welcome fillip for top honours in the men's 800m with the elimination of World champion Mohamed Aman and Olympic silver medallist Nigel Amos of Botswana.

All the three Kenyans runners including-- world record holder David Rudisha, former world junior champion Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich--romped into today's final as pre-race favourites exited in the semi-final round.

Aman was disqualified due to obstruction while Amos finished third in the heat won by Rudisha in 1: 47.70. Kipketer was second in the first semi in 1:44.99 with Adam Kszczot of Poland winning in 1:44.97. Rotich (1:44.85) finished second in third semis won by Amel Tuka (1:44.84) of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Rudisha opted to engage new tactics as he stuck with the leading pack before breaking away on the home straight.

"I'm coming back from a career threatening injury and I was able to control the race from the beginning to the end. I thank God I'm back. There are things we don't take for granted," he added.

Kipketer said he had improved on his finishing and is now targeting a medal in today's final. "The weather has favoured me today and I hope it will be like this during the final," he said.

Rotich said he can't rule out a 1-2-3 finish in today's race after the exit of Nigel and Aman. "After being disqualified in Moscow, I'm happy to reach the final. This is a chance for us to sweep the podium," he said.

In the 1, 500m race, Faith Cheng'etich will carry the country's medal hopes after finishing second to world record holder Genzebe Dibaba in Heat 2.

The other Kenyan, Nancy Chepkwemoi however, failed to qualify after finishing 11th. Faith Cheng'etich, who was toe-to-toe with Dibaba in the entire race, said her target tomorrow is a podium finish.

'I will gauge how my body responds then decide how to approach the final. I will just run my race, I don't want to target her (Dibaba)," she added.