Kenya duo Beatrice Koech and youngster Faith Cherotich have booked their places in the Olympics 3000 meters steeplechase races.

Koech qualified for the final after leading the third heat from the start, achieving a time of 9:13.56.

Cherotich qualification

Cherotich, on her part, managed a 9:10.57 on her Olympics debut as she ran a composed race, finishing 2nd in Heat 1 of the 3,000m Steeplechase to qualify for the finals.

Speaking after her qualification, the teenager who is set to turn 20 this year revealed that she had achieved her goal and had to be smart after she was boxed in during the race.

She is optimistic about the final, stating that anything can happen, and that she is looking forward to it.

“My goal was to make the final, and I am happy to be in the Olympic final. I was boxed a little bit, but I had to be smart to get out without using up too much energy,” she stated.

“Once you make the final, anything can happen, and so I am looking forward to what’s in store for me,” she added.

Those qualified for the final include Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, Gesa Felicitas Krause, Courtney Wayment, and Lomi Muleta from Heat 1.

Heat 2 saw Winfred Mutile Yavi, Sembo Almayew, Valerie Constien, Elizabeth Bird, Norah Jeruto, and Olivia Gürth qualify.

In Heat 3, Alice Finot, Lea Meyer, Alicja Konieczek, and Irene Sánchez-Escribano qualified.

Kenya’s Koech

Kenya’s Jackline Koech missed the final, finishing 12th in Heat 2. She revealed that she was feeling discomfort during the race following a long-term injury.

“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 stated.