.jpg)
Paris Olympics: Kipyegon, Moraa lead chase for maiden medal with 400mH, steeplechase also in store
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 05.08.24. | 09:36
With just six days remaining before the Olympics conclude, Kenya has yet to win a medal, risking one of its worst performances at the Games unless there is a strong showing in the remaining races
Kenya will have a significant opportunity to secure an Olympic medal this evening when the 5000m and 800m women’s races are held at the Stade de France.
With just six days remaining before the Olympics conclude, Kenya has yet to win a medal, risking one of its worst performances at the Games unless there is a strong showing in the remaining races.
Kenya's hopes rest on three athletes in the 5000m, all of whom are in excellent form. World 1500m and mile record holder Faith Kipyegon leads the team, which also includes Margaret Chelimo and Beatrice Chebet.
Kipyegon advanced to the final after clocking 14:57.56 in her heat on Friday, while Chelimo finished fourth in the same heat with a time of 14:57.70. Chebet won her heat with a time of 15:00.73.
The main competition for the Kenyans will come from Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Sifan Hassan, who finished behind Kipyegon in the heats with a time of 14:57.65, as well as the Ethiopian duo of Gudaf Tsegay (15:57.84) and Medina Eisa (15:00.82). Tsegay won bronze in Tokyo, and Eisa looked strong in the heat won by Chebet.
After securing their places in the final, the Kenyan athletes expressed their delight at the chance to win Olympic medals.
“It was a really strong heat. I am thankful I managed to secure a ticket to the final. I am looking forward and hope to do my best in the finals,” Kipyegon said.
Chelimo added, “I am happy to make the final. That was the first step. I am also delighted that we have made it as Team Kenya. I was nervous because of the strong field, but I achieved my target.”
.jpg)
The 5000m final will begin at 10:15 PM EAT.
In the 800m final, Mary Moraa will be Kenya’s sole representative after Vivian Chebet and Lilian Odira failed to advance. Moraa won the first semifinal in 1:57.86, while Chebet finished eighth in semifinal two with a time of 1:59.64, and Odira placed fourth in Heat 3 with a time of 1:58.53.
Moraa will face tough competition, as her semifinal time was the sixth-best overall, and she will be aiming to improve on her semifinal exit from Tokyo.
Key rivals include Tokyo silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain, who had the fastest semifinal time, as well as Ethiopia’s Worknesh Musele Handeno and Tsige Duguma Gemechu, and South Africa’s Prudence Tebogo.
The 800-meter final starts at 10:47 PM EAT.
Earlier this morning, 2022 Africa Championship silver medalist Wiseman Were will compete in the 400m hurdles. He is placed in Heat 4 and will aim to secure a place in the semifinals. Were will be in action from 11:29 AM EAT.
In the evening, the Kenyan trio of Amos Serem, Abraham Kibiwott, and Simon Koech will compete in the 3000m steeplechase heats, they are placed in heat one, two and three respectively.
Kenya managed only a bronze in the steeplechase at the Tokyo Olympics, and the trio will aim to restore Kenya’s dominance in the event. Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, who won gold in Tokyo, remains the athlete to beat. The 3000m steeplechase heats start at 8:05 PM EAT.
.jpg)