PARIS, France, Aug 4 – Kenya will be represented by two athletes in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s 3000m steeplechase final scheduled to be held on Tuesday August 6.
World Record Holder Beatrice Chepkoech and World Under-20 champion Faith Cherotich qualified to the next round while Commonwealth Games winner Jackline Chepkoech failed to progress in the semi-final rounds held Sunday morning at the Stade de France.
Setting the pace for Team Kenya was the reigning World Athletics Rising Star of the Year, Cherotich, who had to inject some pace in the last 200m to advance in the opening Heat as second place finisher (9:10.57) behind Olympics defending champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda.
Speaking after the race, Chemutai, 20, said she is now used to the big competition after bagging bronze at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
“I am very happy to get into the final, that was my target. My first time into the Olympics it feels great. Last year I ran at the World Championships and it was not bad. Since then, I have been running with seniors so I have no jitters,” An optimistic Cherotich said.
However, she will be looking to twist her tactics heading into the final after nearly being boxed in the middle of the leading pack of six.
“I was about to be boxed, so I decided to unleash the after burners at the last water jump barrier. For the final, I will be going hard,” Cherotich, who is making her Olympics debut stated.
-Beatrice Chepkoech charge-
For the World Record Holder, Chepkoech, she did not want to take chances as she led from gun to tape in Heat 3 to qualify as the top athlete in 9:13.56.
Aiming for her maiden Olympic Games medal after finishing 4th in Rio 2016, and a disappointing 7th at the Tokyo 2020 edition, the 2019 World Champion said she was gauging her fitness level after recovering from pneumonia sickness.
“I was not feeling well in the last three weeks, I had pneumonia and was not even expecting to compete since I also picked up an injury on my shin on Monday last when I was training on my speed work back in Kenya,” Chepkoech revealed.
Reacting on her strategy of leading from the start to finish, Chepkoech said, “I wanted to see how my body is going to respond and it did well, I believe I am going to perform well in the final.”
-Little Chepkoech Out-
It was a hard luck for Commonwealth Games champion Jackline Chepkoeh, who could not progress to the final after trailing her Heat.
She said a recurring injury cost her a slot in the final.
“I have been nursing a long-time injury from last year, but I thank God I have competed at the Olympics. I wish Beatrice and Faith all the best in the final, I am confident they will bring gold for Kenya,” the 20-year-old underscored.