Ezekiel KEMBOI KEN
It was under control, I am ok. In the final we Kenyans will run as a team, not as individuals. We want to be the best.

Bouabdallah TAHRI FRA
I'll need to be more careful next time.

Richard Kipkemboi MATEELONG KEN
When the Japanese runner started to break away from us, we just let him go because we knew that we would catch him again. I did not want to waste energy that I will need in the final. My aim was to qualify today by running not too slow and not too fast. So, everything went as planned.

Nahom Mesfin TARIKU ETH
This is the most competitive race I've run so far, and it was tough. I'll have to figure out what I have to do for the next rounds, but I've qualified from this round in a good position, and I'm happy about that.

Roba GARY ETH
It's very hot, that was the most difficult thing. Apart from that, the race wasn't too bad, and I think we've passed on to the next round, so we have to get ready for that. We've prepared very well for this, but the weather is a problem -- the heat and the humidity.