Brighton runner makes it through to 1500m Olympic semi-finals in Rio

Brighton runner Charlie Grice has made it through to the semi-finals of the men’s 1500m at the Olympic Games in Rio despite finishing outside the top six automatic qualifying places.

Grice, 22, finished in 11th place in the second heat today (Tuesday 16 August) but appealed, having been pushed from behind by the European Champion Filip Ingebrigsten.

The Brighton Phoenix runner was judged to have been impeded and given a place in the semi-finals while the Norwegian athlete Ingebrigsten was disqualified.

Grice, a former pupil at Cardinal Newman Catholic School, in Hove, was in the middle of the leading pack near the end of the race when he was jostled. He suffered a cut to his knee.

Charlie Grice

He joins fellow Briton Chris O’Hare in the semi-finals which are due to start at 12.45am (BST) on Friday (19 August).