Kenya’s Wiseman Were has qualified for the Paris Olympics 400 meters final after competing in Heat 5.

Were finished fifth in the heats and remains hopeful of winning gold. The sprinter, a medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as part of the Kenya team in the 4x400m relay, also finished fourth in the final of the 400m hurdles.

Wiseman Were in Kipkeino

In April 2024, Were won the 400 meters hurdles at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi with a meeting record time of 48.57.

He also competed as part of the Kenyan 4x400m relay team at the 2024 World Relays Championships in Nassau, Bahamas. In June 2024, he was named to the Kenyan team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Were joins Faith Kipyegon, Margaret Chelimo, and Beatrice Chebet, who are still in contention for gold and will all compete in the Olympic 5000-meter race final at 10:15 p.m. after advancing from the heats.

In the first heat, Kipyegon secured victory with a time of 14:57.56, while Chelimo finished fourth, clocking in at 14:40.38. Chebet led the second heat, finishing with a time of 15:00.73 to qualify for the final.Mary Moraa will complete the Monday schedule, chasing Olympic gold in the 800 meters final.

On Tuesday, the schedule begins with a javelin throw qualification round between 10:20 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. EAT.

The men’s 400 meters repechage and semifinal will follow, where Were will be in action. The evening schedule includes the men’s 1500 meters and women’s 3000 meters steeplechase final.Kenyan duo Beatrice Koech and youngster Faith Cherotich have booked their places in the women’s 3000 meters steeplechase final and will compete for gold.

Koech qualified for the final by leading the third heat from the start, achieving a time of 9:13.56. Cherotich ran a composed race, finishing second in Heat 1 with a time of 9:10.57 on her Olympics debut.

The men’s marathon is set for Saturday, with two-time Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge competing against the world’s best athletes. Benson Kipruto and newly crowned London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao will also represent Kenya in the race.

Marathon

The women’s marathon, scheduled for Sunday, will feature London Marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir leading the Kenyan team, which includes Boston and New York 2024 Marathon champion Hellen Obiri.

Former world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei, who took silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, is also on the team.