Kenya’s 10,000m medal miss, Kipyegon, Chebet and Chelimo through to women’s 5000m final, all three men in the 1500m semi-finals, Mary books semi slot
Kenya men missed out on the 10,000m final medal with the best performance being fourth place by Bernard Kibet. The men’s 10,000m was the first track final and the honors of the night belonged to Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei who clocked 26:43.14, a new Olympic record.
Kipyegon, Chebet and Kiplimo in 5000m final
In women’s 5000m heats, Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Chelimo all sailed through to the 5000m finals. Entered in heat 1 of the race, Faith Kipyegon was put up against 5000m world record holder Gudaf Tsegay, double Olympic Champion Sifan Hassan and more – it felt like a final.
The race started with a slow pace with Japan’s Yuma Yamamoto taking charge after some laps of the competition for some time before the chasing group eased its way back. The group stuck together for a long time until at the bell when Faith Kipyegon took the leading role. But she did not surge, she just did enough to cross the line in 14:57.56 with Sifan Hassan and Nadia close by. Margaret Chelimo was fourth. It was a close finish.
“When I looked at the start list, I thought this is a strong field. It was a really hot race and a strong heat, but I thank God I have managed to get a ticket to the final,” Faith Kipyegon told Kenyan media.
“I'm really looking forward to the final and I hope all will be well. And we hope to do our best. We hope we will do our best in the final.”
10,000m World record holder and back-to-back World Cross Country Champion Beatrice Chebet won the second heat in a time of 15:00.73. Beatrice who is yet to win a gold medal on track at the senior level says that is her focus come 5th August.
“Race was good, we focused on qualifying for the finals, I ran well, didn’t give my all because one has to preserve the energy for the final, final is not easy – having Gudaf, Sifan, Faith and Margaret,” Beatrice said.
Chebet – the 2022 and 2023 World silver and bronze medallist says for Kenya to secure the gold medal, they will need to employ teamwork.
“What Kenya needs to do is what we did during Cross country, we teamed up and brought the team title and the title. If we team up even 1-2-3 we can bring home, we need to help each other. I know it is not easy but we will fight. I know with Faith and Margaret we will plan well and run a good race,”
“Our rivals are Ethiopians, Sifan and the rest. If I win, we celebrate, if Faith wins, we celebrate, if Margaret wins, we celebrate,”
The 5000m women’s final is on August 5th at 22:15EAT and the Kenyan trio will be hoping to win the gold medal last won by Vivian Cheruiyot in 2016.
“This is a championship. You never know what has happened. It's only that you prepare mentally, and just as if you see how your body is and just run your race, it's not all about other people, but it's all about. That's all yeah.
1500m team through to the semifinals.
The track and field events got underway in Paris on Saturday. Kenyan trio consisting of Olympic silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot, Brian Komen and Reynold Kipkorir all progressed to the semifinals of the men’s 1500m scheduled for Sunday.
Running in heat 1, African Games and African champion in 1500m Brian Komen finished second behind Josh Kerr. Timothy Cheruiyot came fifth in heat two while Reynold Cheruiyot came fourth in his heat.
“The heats have been good, all gone well – the race is not easy, but I am happy I made it, my focus now is the semifinal on Sunday. The 1500m here will be fast, there is a strong challenge from the world, we need to be smart, we need to focus on semifinal and then final, we can plan ourselves – we can beat these guys,” Timothy Cheruiyot told Michezo Afrika.
In women’s 800m heats – the world Champion Mary Moraa came second in heat 5 while Olympic debutant Lilian Odira was third in heat 6, both making it through to the semifinals. Vivian Chebet will have a go at the Repechage round.
The 4x400m mixed relay team was eliminated in the heats.