TOKYO 2020: Kenyan trio advance to 5000m final

The Kenyan trio of Hellen Obiri, Lilian Kasait and Agnes Tirop have advanced to the 5000m Olympics final slated for Monday after prevailing in the semifinals held at the Olympic Stadium, in Tokyo Japan.

Obiri who settled for bronze over the distance in 2016 clocked 14:55.77 to finish second in the second semifinal behind 1500m record holder and Ethiopian Tsegay Gudaf who appeared comfortable throughout the race.

Italian Nadia Battocletti was third on 14:55.83 while American Elise Cranny and Karoline Bjerkeli were fourth and fifth respectively.

The reigning world champion took control hardly four minutes into the race and would alternate with 800m Olympics silver medalist Francine Niyonsaba who finished within the top five bracket only to be disqualified.

The Kenya Defence Forces athlete will have the company of multiple World 1000m bronze medalist Agnes Tirop and former World Cross Country bronze medalist Lilian Kasait in the final. The two clocked the season’s bests of 14:48.01 and 14:50.36 in the second semifinal.

Tirop finished second behind World 1500m champions and Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan while Kasait was fifth in a heat which Kenyan born Turkish Yasemin Cam led from gun to the bell but could not keep up the pace in the finishing lap.

Ethiopian duo of Teferi Senbere and Taye Ejgayehu finished third and fourth respectively on 14:48.31 and 14:48.52

The final promises to be breathtaking as the Kenyan trio will face their Ethiopian counterpart and Hassan who will be seeking triple glory.