Beatrice Chepkoech on his way to winning her heat (C) NOC-K
After a slow day for Team Kenya on Saturday at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, a busy Sunday for the country's representatives at the 33rd Olympiad began with action in the heats of the women's 3000 metres steeple chase which saw the event's world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and Faith Cherotich sailing through to the final as Jackline Chepkoech, disappointingly, will not be returning to the purple track at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, to contest the final on Tuesday, August 6, following her elimination.
The three Kenyans ran in different heats, with Faith Cherotich going first in Heat One where she raced against the reigning Olympic Champion, Peruth Chemutai of Uganda.
Cherotich finished second in that heat with a time of 9:10.57 as Chemutai laid the gauntlet winning with a time of 9:10.51 after leading the race from start to finish and was not fazed by the race's frenzied with saw six athletes, who had broked off from the rest after 2 000 metres, scrambled to finish in the first five positions in order to qualify for finals.
The top five finishers in each heat qualified for the final and in Heat One, Chemutai and Cherotich were joined by Gesa Krause of Germany (9:10.68, season best), Courtney Wayment of the USA (9:10.72), and Lomi Muleta of Ethiopia (9:10.73, personal best).
Tunisia's Marwa Bouzayani was the unfortunate one among the breakaway, finishing last among the sextet despite setting a personal best time of 9:10.91.
In Heat Two, Kenya's sole representative, Jackline Chepkoech, finished last with a time of 9:35.56 after dropping off the pace with 1 000 metres to go.
The Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfried Yavi, who is also the world champion, won the race with a time of 9:15.11 after surging to the front from the back with 1 500 metres and not surrendering the lead.
Ethiopia's Sembo Almayew (9:15.42) was second. She was followed by Valerie Constien of the USA who clocked 9:16.33 to finish third.
Great Britain's Elizabeth Bird was fourth with a time of 9:16.46, finishing just a fraction of a millisecond ahead of the Kenyan-born Kazakhstani, Norah Jeruto, who was fifth with a season best time of 9:16.46.
In the third and final heat, world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, leading the race from start to finish as she registered biggest winning margin in the heats. Chepkoech won the race with a time of 9:13.56, more than one second ahead of Alice Finot who was second with a time of 9:14.78.
Lea Meyer of Germany (9:14.85, personal best), Alicja Koniezcek of Poland (9:16.51, national record), and Irene Sanchez-Escribano (9:17.39, personal best) clinched the remaining qualifying slots.
