Beatrice Chebet has won Kenya’s first gold medal in the ongoing Olympic Games finals in Paris, France, after conquering the 5000m women’s race on Monday, August 6, 2024.
The gold winner, who was also debuting at the Olympics, will pocket Ksh3 million.
Chebet clocked 14:28.56 to win her first gold medal and second Kenya’s gold medal in the 5000m Olympics after Vivian Cheruyoit in 2016.
Meanwhile, Abraham Kibiwott, Amos Serem, and Simon Koech will compete in the Paris Olympic Games 3000m steeplechase final.
The trio booked their slots at the ultimate stage after winning in their respective heats in the semi-finals.
Kibiwott clocked 8:12.02 to finish third in Heat 2, behind Tindouft Mohamed and Samuel Firewu from Morocco and Ethiopia, respectively.
Koech was third after timing 8:24.95 in Heat 3 as he was beaten by USA’s Rooks Kenneth and Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia.
On the other hand, Serem secured a passage to the final after an appeal following an infringement in Heat 1. He was pushed off track at the penultimate water jump and had to retake it.
Karl Bebendorf of Germany pushed the Kenyan, and this threw the Commonwealth Games bronze medalist off balance when he was about to clear the barrier. Kenya appealed successfully, and Serem will now contest for gold in the final.
In the final, Kenya will face defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, who won the race in 8:17.90, ahead of Uganda’s Leonard Chemutai, who registered a season-best of 8:18.19. Wale Getnet, who finished third in the heat after clocking 8:18.25, will also be one to watch.
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