Is it time for Kenya to finally claim the coveted women's 10,000m title at Olympic Games?

Is it time for Kenya to finally claim the coveted women's 10,000m title at Olympic Games?

Abigael Wafula 11:06 - 17.06.2024

Kenya is yet to win a gold medal in the women's 10,000m at the Olympic Games.

Kenya is yet to win a gold medal in the women’s 10,000m and with the formidable team selected for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, this could be the time history will be made.

The trio of world record holder Beatrice Chebet, Lilian Kasait and Margaret Chelimo oozed class at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene which doubled up as the Kenyan Olympic trials for the 25-lap race to book their slots to Paris.

Chebet won the race in a world record time with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay finishing second in the race and Kasait completing the podium. Chelimo finished fourth in the race.

The Kenyan team also scooped the first three positions at the World Cross Country Championships and they will certainly be out to torment their rivals at the Olympics.

Kenya has managed to win two silver medals in the women’s race, with Selly Kipyego winning the medal at the 2012 London Olympics and Vivian Cheruiyot winning at the 2016 Rio Olympics. During the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, no woman made it to the podium but the trio will be out to change that narrative.

Ethiopians have given Kenyans a run for their money when it comes to the 10,000m but the team selected for this year’s global bonanza will mean business.

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“I think where we are at the moment, we are capable of winning that medal. There is a high chance that we Kenyans will win that medal.

“When we went to Belgrade earlier this year, we took the first three slots due to our teamwork and I hope we shall maintain that at the Olympic Games,” Chelimo said in a post-race interview.

The three athletes have been in great shape and Chebet and Chelimo showcased their talent one more time at the Olympic trials, competing in the 5000m.

Faith Kipyegon, coming back from an injury, won the race as she clocked 14:46.28 to cross the finish line with Chebet finishing second in 14:52.55. Chelimo completed the podium, cutting the tape in 14:59.39.

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