Coe’s friend Wightman times his 800m to absolute perfection
FOR someone who still doesn’t know whether he is an 800m runner or not, Jake Wightman certainly looked authentic as he booked his place in tomorrow’s final. The 23-yearold, whose preferred distance tends to be 1500m, timed his run to perfection for a time of 1.47.43 and second place in the final heat over the shorter distance behind Jonathan Kitilit of Kenya.
Wightman counts Seb Coe as a family friend and received a pep talk via text message in the wake of his Diamond League win at the Bislett Games in Oslo last year. Well, the IAAF President was back in touch yesterday, and Wightman would take any advice going as he aims to double up.
“I spoke to him [Coe] just then, after my race,” said Wightman, whose efforts to do both events were aided by the decision by organisers to drop a round of the 800m.
“He met me and said well done. I still get star struck by him and I would definitely take any advice I could get from him – but he might just leave me to it!
“I did a 600 metres time trial and it was way faster than I thought it would be. So me and my dad both thought: “Oh, there’s no way we can’t do the 800 now. Then the next day they pulled out the semis.
“I’m here to medal,” he added “No matter what the event. The chance to have two is exciting. However the 800 goes, I’ve got to stay focused for the 1500.”
There was no luck for Guy Learmonth, however, with the Borderer – who has been suffering from a foot problem – finishing sixth in the opening heat.