The defending champion, Wilson Kipketer of Denmark, was the fastest qualifier in the first round of the men’s 800m. Running in the first heat, the joint world record holder easily coped with a relatively tough field, winning in 1:46.34 after taking the lead, and control of the race, at 400m. The Olympic silver medallist, Hezekiel Sepeng of South Africa, followed him home and recorded the second fastest time of the round, 1:46.42. In a round of relatively slow times - only eight athletes were under 1:47.00 - most of the contenders for final places qualified safely: Norberto Tellez of Cuba, who was fourth at last year’s Olympic Games, won heat 2 in 1:46.44; Marko Koers of the Netherlands, fifth fastest in the world this year, ran 1:47.17 in winning heat 3; Patrick Konchellah of Kenya, third fastest in the world this year, ran 1:47.15 in winning heat 4; Olympic champion, Vebjoern Rodal of Norway, ran 1:47.58 in winning heat 5; Patrick Ndururi of Kenya, fourth fastest in the world in 1997, won a very slow heat 6 in 1:49.51; and Mark Everett of USA, second fastest this year and 1991 World Championships bronze medallist, ran 1:47.13 in winning heat 7. Two non-starters and an injury to Britain’s Paul Walker after 250m allowed the four automatic qualifiers in heat 6 to record some of the slowest times of this, or any round, of a major championships 800m - Brandon Rock of the USA was fourth across the line in 1:58.05. One notable name who did not qualify was Giuseppe D’Urso of Italy, the 1993 World Championships silver medallist, who quit heat 3 while in last place at 400m.
