Paris Olympics: 'Small' Faith claims big bronze as Kenyan born Bahraini reigns supreme in 3000m Steeplechase

Faith 'Small' Cherotich decorated her fast-growing athletics career with a bronze medal after finishing third in the Olympic 3000m Steeplechase at the Stade de France on Tuesday night.

Racing in a field heavily stacked with experienced superstars, the 20-year-old ensured that Kenya did not leave empty-handed in the event and on the night, as her bravery secured her first Olympic medal at the first time of asking.

She was also rewarded with a new Personal Best of 8:55.15 thanks to the cut-throat pace witnessed in the final 400m.

This is the second time the youngster has earned the country a medal at a global event having won bronze during last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

Cherotich’s third-place finish meant that Kenya would wait longer for the first Olympics gold in the water and barrier event.

Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Yavi Mutile needed to break the Olympic record to dethrone Peruth Chemutai of Uganda in what was a sprint finish.

Chemutai, who became the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic medal in any sport in Tokyo three years ago was on the verge of retaining her title but Mutile’s explosive final sprint did the damage.

Mutile, who trains in Kenya, clocked 8:52.76 to become the Olympic champion, hardly a year after establishing herself as the world champion in Budapest.

Chemutai, who has been on top of her game in the season, settled for silver in a new National Record of 8:53.34.

She had an impressive start signifying her intentions of bagging one of the missing titles in her rich collection but couldn’t hold on when it mattered most.

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Record holder Beatrice Chepkoech who had a promising start in the race faded off to a sixth-place finish.

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The 2019 world champion and Cherotich were the sole Kenyans in the race as former U20 champion Jackline Chepkoech failed to advance to the final.

Cherotich’s bronze in the steeplechase takes Kenya’s medal tally in Paris to four.