Paris Olympics: Steppping into the steeplechase final in style (PHOTOS)

Kenya’s duo of Faith Cherotich, and Beatrice Chepkoech have all qualified for the 3000m steeplchase final at the Paris Olympics after cruising in the semifinals raced on Sunday 4 August morning.

In heat one, Faith Cherotich eased into the final after finishing in the second position with a time of 9:10.57.

The 20-year-old had a rather smooth run, maintaining the second position for most of the race, running behind Uganda's Peruth Chemutai.

In the final 400 meters, she suffered a scare, dropping to fifth in the pack, but she recovered in the final jump to finish behind Chemutai, who clocked 9:10.51.

“Once you make the final, anything can happen and so I am looking forward to what’s in store for me," Cherotich told Team Kenya media after her race.

Germany’s Gesa Krause in third position, Courtney Wayment, and Lomi Muleta in fourth and fifth positions, respectively, also made it to the final.

In heat two, 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medalist Jackline Chepkoech had a race to forget, finishing in the 12th position. She started slowly and did not manage to recover, ultimately finishing in last place.

Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi won the heat in 9:15.11, followed by Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew in 9:15.42. Valerie Constien of the USA, Elizabeth Bird of Great Britain, and Kenyan-born Kazakhstani runner Norah Jeruto, who finished in third, fourth, and fifth positions, also made it to the final.

"I kept pushing and pushing, but I just couldn't overcome it. I've been nursing an injury for a year now, and during the race, I could feel the discomfort. I wanted to test my body and hoped I would be better, but I gave it my all," she offered post-race.

In the third heat, World Record holder Beatrice Chepkoech eased into the final in a race where she barely broke a sweat, winning the heat. The 33-year-old led the race from start to finish, securing her ticket to the final with a time of 9:13.57. Alice Finot of France, Lea Meyer of Germany, Alicja Konieczek of Poland, and Irene Sanchez of Spain also qualified for the final.

The finals will be run on Tuesday evening.

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