Johnny Gregorek, whose run this week at the 2017 IAAF World Championships marks his career debut at worlds, is the lone American to advance to the 1500m finals by virtue of a strong kick today in London.

The 25-year-old picked his competitors off one-by-one in the final 400m to move up in the field and cross the line in seventh place, two spots outside of automatic advancement. His time of 3:38.68 was faster than everyone in heat one and so he -- along with Olympic bronze medalist Nick Willis of New Zealand -- advanced to the final based on time.

Over the last 400m, he told himself, "'C'mon, Johnny G!'" he revealed to Lewis Johnson after the race.

He ran in the second heat, just minutes after U.S. champion Robby Andrews dropped out of his semi-final with just over a lap remaining when his calf muscle cramped. Yesterday, track nation was shocked to see reigning Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz eliminated from worlds with a last-place performance in his preliminary race.

Men's 1500m finalists:

RANK	ATHLETE	COUNTRY	MARK
1	Jakub Holuša	Czech Republic	3:38.05Q
2	Timothy Cheruiyot	Kenya	3:38.24Q
3	Marcin Lewandowski	Poland	3:38.32Q
4	Chris O'Hare	UK	3:38.59Q
5	Fouad Elkaam	Morocco	3:38.64Q
6	Nicholas Willis	New Zealand	3:38.68q
7	John Gregorek	USA	3:38.68q
8	Elijah Manangoi	Kenya	3:40.10Q
9	Asbel Kiprop	Kenya	3:40.14Q
10	Filip Ingebrigtsen	Norway	3:40.23Q
11	Sadik Mikhou	Bahrain	3:40.52Q
12	Adel Mechaal	Spain	3:40.60Q