Athletics Kenya unveils 10,000m team for Paris 2024 Olympics games
By Collins Amanga, June 13, 2024
Athletics Kenya has announced the 10,000 meters men’s and women’s teams for the 2024 Paris Olympics, set to take place in July.
In the women’s category, Beatrice Chebet, who made history as the first woman to run the 10,000m in under 29 minutes at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, will lead the team.
Paris Olympics reps
She will be joined by Lilian Kasait and Margaret Chelimo. Chebet boasts an impressive track record, having secured the silver medal in the 5000 meters at the 2022 World Championships, along with titles at the Commonwealth Games, African Championships, and the Diamond League.
Chebet clinched gold in the women’s senior race at the 2023 and 2024 World Cross Country Championships. Known as the “smiling assassin,” she also won the world under-20 title in the 5000m in 2018 and claimed victory at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships.
Kasait, who has previously won a bronze medal in the women’s senior race at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships, is a former 3000 meters World Under-18 champion and World U20 Championship silver medallist.
Chelimo has an impressive resume, having won the silver medal in the 5000 meters at the 2019 World Championships and a bronze in the 10,000 meters at the 2022 World Championships. Chelimo also took silver in the 5000m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
In the men’s category, Daniel Mateiko, who secured victory in the men’s 10,000m with a thrilling finish, will be joined by Nicholas Kimeli and Bernard Kibet.
Kimeli set for Olympics again
Mateiko has established himself as a formidable competitor in distance running. Kimeli, a member of the NN Running Team, has primarily raced between 5000m and half marathon, holding a personal best of 58:26 in the half marathon, ranking him ninth fastest of all time over that distance.
Kimeli previously represented Kenya at the 2020 Summer Olympics, finishing in fourth place. He recently broke the Romanian 10K all-comers record at the 2022 Brașov Running Festival with a time of 26:51, becoming the fifth-fastest 10K runner ever.