Athletics schedule, timings confirmed as Team Kenya continue with medal chase in Paris

News

Wednesday, July 31, 2024
9:58 am

Collins Amanga

Team Kenya‘s chase for medals at the Paris Olympics 2024 will continue this week with athletics set to commence.

First on the schedule for Kenya on Thursday, August 1, is the Men’s 20km Race Walk final, which will kick off at 7:30 a.m. Samuel Gathimba is set to be the first to take to the track as he represents Kenya.

Kenya 1500m

On Friday, the Kenya 1500m team will have their round one matches at 11:05 a.m., followed by the opening round of the 5000 metres where Faith Kipyegon is set to make her Olympic 5000m debut.

World record holder for the 1,500 metres and mile races Faith Kipyegon. PHOTO/World Athletics/X — World record holder for the 1,500 metres and mile races Faith Kipyegon. PHOTO/ @WorldAthletics/X

The race will bring together the world record-holders over 1500m, 5000m, and 10,000m in the middle at this distance in what looks set to be an intense and exhilarating clash.

Kipyegon, Gudaf Tsegay, and Beatrice Chebet have respectively broken the world records across those three distances over the past 12 months. All three have also won global titles in that time frame.

Add defending champion Sifan Hassan to the equation, and this looks set to be the highest calibre event at the Games.

The 4x400m Mixed Relay Round one will happen on Friday at 7:10 p.m., before paving the way for the 800m at 7:45 a.m., where World champion Mary Moraa, who has raced sparingly, will be in action in the opening round.

The Men’s 10,000m Final at 9:20 a.m. will conclude the schedule on Friday. On Saturday, the men’s 100 metres men’s preliminary will be at 10:35 a.m., followed by the 100m round 1.

The 4x400m relay finals are set for 9:00 p.m., with Swimming 50m Freestyle Women Heats for Maria Brunlehner set for 12:00 p.m., and Kenya Volleyball set to face Japan at 2:00 p.m.

Sunday will offer a chance for Peruth Chemutai to become the event’s first two-time champion, while World record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech will be eyeing her first gold for Kenya.

Youngsters Faith Cherotich and Jackline Chepkoech will also be in action as the 3000m Steeplechase Women Round 1 kicks off at 10:05 a.m.

Faith Cherotich after receiving the award. PHOTO/World Athletics

Other races on the menu this Sunday include the 400m Men Round 1, 100m Men Semi-final, 800m Women Semi-final, Men’s 1500m Semi-final, and Men’s 100m Final.