World champion Faith Kipyegon will lead compatriots Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Chelimo in the hunt for the 5,000m Olympics gold that Kenya last won in 2016.
Faith Kipyegon will begin her hunt for double Olympics gold with the 5,000m heats on Friday evening as she leads compatriots Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Chelimo.
Kipyegon is Kenya’s best bet for gold over the distance as she attempts another double and comes into the Olympics in good form.
The world champion has just featured in two competitive events this year but that was in her specialty 1,500, with her only 5,000m race of the season being at the Kenyan Olympics trials in June.
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Kipyegon will be in Heat 1 alongside Chelimo and her race also has world record holder Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia who broke her world record last year.
Chebet will then hit the track hoping to join her colleagues in the next round as Kenya looks to firm up its grip on the race.
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Besides Tsegay, the race also has Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, who is going for three events in Paris, while seeking to defend her 5,000m title.
The first round might not witness fireworks but the Kenyan trio must be at their brilliant best to avoid early setbacks.
Kenya last won Olympics gold in 5,000m at the Rio 2016 Games through Vivian Cheruiyot before Hellen Obiri bagged silver in Tokyo three years ago but with the experience and quality of Kipyegon and Chebet, there is hope of reclaiming the title.